'Honestly': Declan Rice says he was actually 'so annoyed' for one reason after Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb

Today at 02:55 AM

It was all smiles at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal are on course to quality for a place in the last-16 of the Champions League after their resounding 3-0 victory against Dinamo Zagreb.

Heading into the contest, Mikel Arteta would have been desperate for the Gunners to seal the all-important three points after throwing away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 against Aston Villa on the weekend.

But as Arsenal returned to winning ways against Dinamo Zagreb, they now sit in third place in the Champions League table behind Barcelona and Liverpool.

Declan Rice opened the scoring with a brilliant finish after Kai Havertz laid the ball off for him to volley past Ivan Nevistic.

Havertz joined the party by heading the ball into the back of the net in the 66th minute and Martin Odegaard capped off a well-deserved win for the hosts with a tap-in.

Ahead of the contest, Mikel Arteta admitted Rice could play in defence one day but the Englishman played in his usual box-to-box midfield position and got on the scoresheet. Rice backs himself to score more goals, having bagged just three in all competitions.

Declan Rice left “so annoyed” at not scoring brace in Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb

Playing in a much more advanced role on a consistent basis this season, it is important for the Englishman to pop up with important goals as Bukayo Saka is injured.

However, in the 75th minute, the former West Ham United skipper missed a gilt-edged header after Ethan Nwaneri whipped in a pinpoint cross into him in acres of space.

Rice expressed how frustrated he was at himself for not scoring a brace in Arsenal’s latest triumph against Dinamo Zagreb.

The 26-year-old told TNT Sports: “I’m so annoyed. Honestly, because I had the same position against Man United in the cup and I missed and the same there.”

“Look, I’m getting in the right positions when I play [as a number] eight, obviously scored a good goal in the first half but I’m annoyed I didn’t get a second.”

“I’ve got to be a bit more clinical but to get my first Champions League, it’s obviously taken me two seasons but I’m so happy, yeah, hopefully many more to come.”

Rice thinks he can score 20 goals if he played as a striker in this Arsenal side.

Rice’s technical ability has been praised in the past but goalscoring from the middle of the park is certainly an art that takes time to master.

Declan Rice says Mikel Arteta tells him to arrive late in the box after Arsenal beat Dinamo Zagreb

Rice revealed Mikel Arteta’s advice to him and all his other partners in midfield is to arrive late in the box to score goals.

“So important [to score goals from midfield], I think the manager he's been on us really hard about midfielders arriving because so many goals can come from there.”

The midfielder said: “It's down to us to make up that extra five, ten yards, Martin [Odegaard] obviously did there right at the end of the game, I did for the header.”

"So we've got to keep arriving there, look it was an important win tonight, it's been a really positive Champions League campaign so we've got one more to go now, hopefully we can win that as well."

Rice will certainly be considered a hero at the Emirates Stadium if he gets his shooting boots on in Arsenal’s subsequent games.

As Arsenal are fighting for the league title, every goal they score that contributes to a potential win will be worth its weight in gold.

Especially against teams of the calibre of Manchester City and Nottingham Forest in two of their next five league games, as Mikel Arteta’s side try to bridge the gap between themselves and league leaders Liverpool.

Rice is arguably Arsenal’s most important player and it is time for him to step up, especially in front of goals as the business end of the season is where legends are made.