Mikel Arteta has lauded Declan Rice for his intelligence and work ethic with the summer signing helping to guide Arsenal to the Premier League summit.

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• Rice made £105 million switch to Arsenal in summer
• Crucial to Arsenal's dominance in games

• Rice has scored two last-gasp winners this season

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Since making his blockbuster £105 million ($132m) switch from West Ham in the summer, Rice has become the driving force behind Arsenal's impressive form this season. Primarily operating just in front of the defence, the England midfielder has been nothing short of spectacular and Arteta was keen to continue to lavish praise on his star signing.

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  WHAT ARTETA SAID

  Speaking ahead of Saturday's game at Aston Villa, Arteta said: "[Rice is] extremely intelligent to read situations, to break up play, to win duels – crucial duels in certain areas of the pitch that allow us to counter and progress in really dangerous situations.

  "He is really humble, funny, really hardworking. He is extremely committed in everything he wants to do. He wants to win everything that he does. Really easy going, he's integrated in the team in a really positive way.

  "I was really positive about it because when I spoke to him, he mentioned to me many times from day one, 'I just want to play for Arsenal and I want to play with you' and he maintained his word to the last moment and we were good enough to acquire him."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Arsenal boss had identified the then-West Ham captain as someone he saw as vital to improving the Gunners' midfield and building on last season's second-placed finish. Arteta has been proven right. Rice has become the linchpin in the Arsenal team and transformed the mentality of the side. This season, Arsenal have been diligent and dominant in games; offering few chances for their opposition and suffocating them with relentless pressing. Rice can be credited as the pivotal player behind this transformation.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Arsenal have won nine points through goals scored after the 80-minute mark. In five of their 15 games this season, they have scored a game-changing goal in the closing stages of the match. Rice alone has won six points through 96th-minute winners at Luton on Tuesday and against Manchester United in September.

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