Two-goal Rice maintains Gunners' title challenge

MIKEL Arteta hailed Declan Rice as one of the best midfielders in the world after his second-half double in Arsenal's 3-2 comeback win against Bournemouth on Saturday.

- PHILIP DUNCAN

The Gunners had to do it the hard way at the Vitality Stadium when Gabriel's miscued pass gifted Evanilson the opener after just ten minutes. Gabriel, however, equalised for the visitors six minutes later.

Rice, who was unable to play a part in Arsenal's midweek win against Aston Villa due to a knee injury, netted his first goal nine minutes after the interval, and added a second after 71 minutes - his first brace in 296 Premier League games.

When asked if he considers Rice among the best in the world in his position, Arteta said: "For me, yes.

"Declan is constantly adding things to his game, and his role in the team, and I don’t see where he can stop because he can still improve in a lot of areas and he wants to improve. He was so disappointed not to play against Villa. He really wanted to. He tried in the morning and he was nowhere near. He wanted to train the next day and it was not a possibility.