'He will: Mikel Arteta names the Arsenal star with just three goals this season who can actually score 'a lot'

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Mikel Arteta would have been delighted to witness Declan Rice get on the scoresheet from his advanced midfield role during Arsenal’s 3-0 victory against Dinamo Zagreb.

Rice was “annoyed” after Arsenal beat Dinamo Zagreb as the 26-year-old felt he could have scored a brace after missing a sitter in the 75th minute.

But Mikel Arteta would be satisfied knowing that the England international has an appetite for scoring goals nowadays.

As the Premier League table shows, Arsenal (43) have less goals than Manchester City (44), Chelsea (44) and Liverpool (50) out of all the teams in the top six currently.

As a result, it is important for the likes of Rice and his other teammates to contribute towards upping the Gunners’ goalscoring numbers, especially in the league as they hope to win the title this season.

Recently, Rice admitted attacking the box feels “unnatural” to him.

Mikel Arteta predicts Declan Rice “will score a lot of goals” after Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb

However, Kalvin Phillips revealed Rice is a terrific athlete and with that being the case, the former West Ham United midfielder has the engine to make such darting runs to score goals.

The likes of Frank Lampard and Ilkay Gundogan have shown that the timing of such runs to sniff out chances is a skill that not many other midfielders possess, which gave them an edge over their peers.

After Arsenal defeated Dinamo Zagreb, Mikel Arteta claimed that if Rice consistently gets into dangerous areas, he has the quality to bag tons of goals.

Arteta told TNT Sports: “Especially in the last few games as well because he had some big, big chances and that’s it. The more he is there, the more consistent he is with the quality that he has, he will score a lot of goals.”

Mikel Arteta went on to add that in recent weeks, Rice has had several big chances and he is capable of becoming an even bigger threat than he currently is as a number eight.

The Spaniard said via HaytersTV: “His intent, his purpose, especially in attacking the position in how he’s driving with the ball, there is another bite to his game. And today, he could have scored two goals, in the last few weeks, he had some big, big open chances to score, to affect the game.”

“Overall, very, very happy because we need to affect the game from those positions and he’s certainly capable of doing that.”

Rice feels he can score goals as a striker if he was deployed up front for Arsenal but now that he finds himself in zones close to Kai Havertz, it is time he does do so consistently.

Roy Keane said Declan Rice can hit “double figures” for goals

Back in September, Roy Keane claimed that the former West Ham United midfielder could hit double figures for goals.

Keane said on The Overlap’s Stick To Football show: “I think he’s got a goal in him and I think he can.”

Paul Scholes asked: “15 to 20?”

Roy Keane replied: “That’s a lot for any midfielder.”

“But I definitely think if he had that role at Arsenal and he was guaranteed someone sat behind him, I think he’d get double figures, I think he’d get 10. I think he’s got the technique to score goals.”

“You saw him Ireland [in September], I know, the opposition, they were dominating the game but the way he gets in for the goal and he creates the second goal, he can do it.”

Kai Havertz claimed Rice is brilliant offensively and he will have to prove that by putting up sizable numbers.

Last season, the Europa Conference League winner did manage to score seven goals in the league, which proves that he can put the ball in the back of the net.

Arteta tells Rice to attack the box, a piece of advice he must take seriously to elevate his game as an all-round midfielder.