‘How quick is he?’: Pundit stunned by how fast 24-year-old Arsenal player actually is

Declan Rice has shocked a lot of people this season at Arsenal.

The midfielder has settled into life at the Emirates with such ease, and he’s already one of the Gunners’ best players.

Many questioned whether or not Rice could make this step up, and it’s fair to say those questions have been answered now.

However, it’s not just Rice’s performances that have surprised people, some of his attributes have too.

Indeed, speaking on Five, Anton Ferdinand has been discussing the England midfielder, and he says that he’s been shocked by just how quick the midfielder actually is.

Luton Town v Arsenal FC - Premier League

Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Ferdinand shocked by Rice’s pace

The pundit gave his verdict on Rice.

“Not just his character, his attributes, you’re seeing things you didn’t see when he was at West Ham. West Ham fans will tell you what you’re seeing now they’ve seen it since he came into the team,” Ferdinand said.

“By the way, how quick is he? how quick is he though?” Ferdinand said.

Remarkably quick

It’s almost easy to miss just how fast Rice is, but when you pay attention to his game, you can’t help but notice just how fast he is.

He’s not like Dan James where his legs move as if he’s road runner, but his immense stride length and running power means he can cover ground so quickly.

Rice is a physically dominant midfield player, and his unique combination of size, strength and technical ability make him a really valuable asset in this Arsenal team.

The former West Ham man has stepped up a level or two this season, and it’s been very impressive to watch him grow in confidence and stature each and every time he steps onto the pitch for Arsenal.

The 24-year-old is proving himself to be a really quality player.