Emile Heskey has lauded Declan Rice for his outstanding contributions to Arsenal since his move from West Ham United, describing him as an ‘ambassador for football.’

Former England and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey has hailed Declan Rice as an “ambassador for football,” following the midfielder’s impressive start at Arsenal.

The 24-year-old, who signed from West Ham United in July for a reported £100 million, has become a pivotal figure in Arsenal’s campaign this season.

Rice has contributed two goals and one assist in 13 appearances across all competitions and his performances have validated Mikel Arteta‘s decision to bring him to the Emirates.

Heskey, speaking to The Sport Review, expressed no surprise at Rice’s strong start in North London. “He’s a fantastic player [and] he’s an ambassador for football,” Heskey said.

He commended Rice’s straightforward and effective approach, noting, “He lets his football do the talking. He doesn’t need to be ranting and raving about anything, he just lets his football do the talking.”

Drawing parallels with James Milner, Heskey remarked on Rice’s consistent high-level performances, essential for Arsenal‘s ambitions. “He’s probably [an] eight to nine out of ten every week – and that’s the consistency and the level that you need to be playing with at Arsenal, because you can’t afford to drop.”

Arsenal, who sit at the top of the Premier League table, are looking to mount a serious title challenge this season. Heskey believes that last season’s near-miss, where Arsenal fell short, will act as a motivator for the team.

When asked about Arsenal‘s prospects for the title, Heskey said, “Yeah, I think they will. They’ve probably got a little bit more experience this time around, but that will still be building.”

He placed Arsenal alongside Liverpool as probable challengers to Manchester City.

Declan Rice’s impact at Arsenal has been significant, and with high praise from seasoned professionals like Emile Heskey, it underscores the midfielder’s value to the team and his growing stature in the Premier League.

Tags for URL generation, minus ‘Arsenal’:

Headline Options: A: Emile Heskey commends Declan Rice for his outstanding start at Arsenal B: Declan Rice hailed as an ‘ambassador for football’ by Emile Heskey

H1: Emile Heskey praises Arsenal’s Declan Rice as a football ambassador