Declan Rice has credited a direct conversation with Mikel Arteta for unlocking his best form in an Arsenal shirt. The midfielder's five Premier League assists this season have been central to the Gunners sitting top of the table with 24 points from nine games, having won eight and lost one.

Rice, 27, referenced the manager's challenge after his assist helped secure a 1-0 win at Liverpool last weekend, a result that ended a 14-year wait for a league victory at Anfield. That victory on Sunday 1 November, secured by a 16th-minute Kai Havertz goal, was part of an unbeaten run of five matches, with three wins and two draws. "The way I've started this season is the position that suits me the most," Rice said.

Arteta confirmed he held a specific talk with the England international before the campaign. "I had a talk with Rice at the beginning of the season and told him he is no longer Arsenal's 'lighthouse' - a name he had given him - and that he expected more this season," the manager said. This shift in expectation has seen Rice start every Premier League and Champions League match, contributing to 55 goals in his 55 appearances for the club since his 2023 arrival.

His versatility has been key, but the understanding is that a more advanced, creative role is now his primary function. The signing of Bruno Guimaraes has provided the squad depth to manage Rice's minutes, with rests in the EFL Cup and during an international break planned after he played 55 games last season.

His influence is reflected in the statistics and the praise from teammates and pundits alike. The team's overall record of 14 goals scored and just five conceded gives them the best defensive record and a goal difference of plus nine.

Arsenal's defensive solidity, with six clean sheets in their last nine league games, is also built on Rice's work. The team has conceded just five goals all season, claiming the best defensive record in the division as they hold a three-point lead over Manchester City at the summit.

With talks ongoing about a new long-term contract for Rice, Arteta has stated his desire for the player to stay. The visitors currently sit 11th in the table. The team's top scorer this season is Kai Havertz, who has three goals in nine appearances.

More detail at bbc.co.uk