Arsenal crowned Premier League champions What a night for Arsenal and Bournemouth fans.
The Cherries secure European football for the first time ever, while Arsenal, after 22 years of waiting, are English champions once again.
I don’t think it’s been highlighted enough that Arteta and the club like an English contingent of players.
That’s great for the England national team and for our game generally.
Declan Rice has every attribute you’d want from a midfield player. He’s been the best midfield player in the Premier League. His durability is incredible, he hardly ever misses a minute. His athleticism, defensively and on the press. You run out of superlatives for him.
His consistency is of the highest level. He spots danger consistently, he knows when to drop in and protect his back four. He knows when to get forward and go out and press. There are very few in Europe who can press better than him.
Maybe he could add a few goals and assists to his game. But we can see he’s capable of that as well.
He’s such an important player for this Arsenal team. He’s probably the most deserving, in many ways.
They’ve used eight English players this season and a lot of them have been integral.
With all the narrative around the way they’re playing and ‘it doesn’t look good’, I think that’s been missed – someone that actually believes in English players.
I know some of them have come through, like Saka. A lot of the others he’s brought in. In an age when we don’t have the abundance of talent we once had – especially in forward areas for England – that deserves some respect as well.
The progression has been tremendous. From where they were to where they are, being competitive in the last couple of years in the top of the league and the Champions League.
They still have that wonderful opportunity now to make it a historic season for the club.
