Arsenal kept the pressure on title rivals Manchester City with an impressive 3-0 win over Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium.
After Bukayo Saka broke the deadlock with a 45th-minute penalty, Rice provided the assist for Leandro Trossard’s second and then added Arsenal’s third in injury-time.
The win sent Arsenal four points clear at the top of the Premier League, but Man City closed the gap to one with a 5-1 victory over Wolves later in the day.
Analysing Arsenal’s latest win on BBC’s Match of the Day, Gunners legend Wright heaped praise on Rice and said he has enjoyed an ‘unbelievable’ first season at the Emirates following a big-money move from West Ham last summer.
‘He is the difference for us, in respect of being able to play any of those positions in the midfield,’ Wright said. ‘He will find himself in any situation and he will be able to deal with it.
‘This is his touch map, he was all over the place. People were talking about can he play in a possession-based system? Of course, he can. Will he score enough goals? Now, we are seeing that, especially with someone like Thomas Partey behind him because it releases him.
‘You need somebody attacking the box because that’s one of the big problems for Arsenal, with Declan playing where he is in that eight, to get into the box, he is getting in there and trying to get his goals.
‘This is what he is absolutely fantastic at [winning the ball back]. He will see that, sniff that out and then make another chance – unbelievable. This is what he is fantastic at.
‘This is proper box-to-box play from him. What Arsenal are doing is a lot down to this man. He has been unbelievable for Arsenal this season.’
Arsenal are attempting to win the Premier League for the first time in 20 years but the title is still in Manchester City’s hands.
If both teams win their remaining games, Man City will finish on 91 points, two more than Arsenal.
Discussing the title race on Match of the Day, ex-Tottenham and England midfielder Jermaine Jenas said: ‘I just think Man City are too strong, they are going to go all the way I think.’
Wright then responded: ‘Yeah, it looks like it, they are so strong.’
Arsenal continue their Premier League title challenge next weekend with a tricky trip to Manchester United, while Man City travel to west London to face Fulham.
Liverpool are technically still in the title race but will need to win their remaining three games and hope for a meltdown from both Arsenal and City to win the Premier League in Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield.
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