‘He’s better than I thought’: Darren Bent admits he has changed his mind on the ‘outstanding’ Arsenal star. I thought he was an average player, but he is a world-class player…

Darren Bent has had a change of heart regarding the Arsenal star, admitting, “He’s better than I thought.” Initially perceived as an average player, he is now recognized as a world-class talent.

Declan Rice has been exceptional in his performances for Arsenal this season!

The 24-year-old joined the team during the summer amidst great anticipation and high hopes from Arsenal fans.

This is precisely why the decision-makers at the Emirates fully supported Mikel Arteta by making a club-record transfer fee to secure the services of the West Ham United captain.

Darren Bent has acknowledged that Declan Rice has exceeded his expectations after observing him last season compared to the current campaign, as he revealed on talkSPORT.

Thomas Partey, who has been sidelined due to injuries for a significant portion of this season, played a crucial role as the main defensive midfielder for the team.

There were numerous discussions regarding who was the superior player between the Ghanaian star and the English international.

However, Darren Bent has now altered his opinion and believes that Declan Rice is the superior player.

Expressing his admiration for Declan Rice, Bent stated, “Having Declan Rice in the team is reassuring. He is a player who provides a sense of security for Arsenal.”

“We may not emerge victorious in every match, but our chances are significantly higher with him in the midfield. He has been exceptional, but that’s what a £100 million investment brings.”

“Yes, he has surpassed my initial expectations. Last season, if you had asked me to choose between Partey and him, I would have selected Partey. However, for the majority of this season, he has been exceptional.”

Declan Rice and Thomas Partey have been an intriguing duo for Arsenal. However, Arteta has been unable to field them together due to Partey’s lack of fitness. In the beginning of the campaign, Partey was even deployed as a right-back.

With Arsenal’s busy schedule, including matches in the Champions League, it will be fascinating to see how Arteta utilizes these two players. Could he potentially deploy them together at a challenging venue like the Etihad, bolstering the midfield and creating a formidable defensive wall?

Regardless of the approach, Arteta now has the luxury of options and a highly valuable player to choose from.