Arsenal told they have a player in their ranks now performing like a ‘prime Vieira’

Arsenal have made some good signings in recent years and one BBC pundit believes they’ve landed someone who’s playing like a prime Patrick Vieira right now.

The last few windows have seen Arsenal spend heavily to improve their squad and while they withheld from splashing out in January, the summer is expected to see new players signed.

The Gunners have signed the likes of Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and more in recent windows and all have had an impact.

• READ MORE: Arsenal have been offered ‘one of the best in the world’ this summer

Of course, when you look at those signings who’ve made the biggest impact, it’s hard to look further than £100m man, Declan Rice.

Rice has been lauded by pundits and media all season for his performances. And speaking about Rice for the BBC last night, former Everton midfielder Don Hutchison had some high praise for the England man.

Declan Rice told he’s playing like a prime Patrick Vieira for Arsenal now

Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live last night about Arsenal and their signings, Hutchison compared Rice to a prime Patrick Vieira, Steven Gerrard or Roy Keane.

“I am not being condescending, even if they don’t make it Arsenal, I still think it’s been a brilliant season. They are showing everyone they are here to stay. I think they will invest in the summer,” Hutchison said.

“I think the money that Mikel Arteta spent, especially on the likes of Declan Rice, who I thought was magnificent last week. He looked like prime Keane, prime Vieira, sort of prime Gerrard in that performance.”

What’s been said about Declan Rice’s Arsenal performances?

READ MORE: Tim Sherwood shares why Declan Rice is so different this season

There doesn’t seem to be a week that goes by without someone lauding Rice and Hutchison becomes the latest to sing his praises.

Darren Bent said this week that he’d not even swap Rice for Kylian Mbappe, while teammate Aaron Ramsdale has said the fitness levels the former West Ham possesses are ridiculous.

Going further in that praise, former Gunner Ian Wright has also insisted Rice is the difference for this Arsenal team.

“He is the difference for us, in respect of being able to play any of those positions in the midfield. He will find himself in any situation and he will be able to deal with this.

“This is his touch map (against Bournemouth). 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, it releases him – When you see this, where Kai Havertz is (running out towards the edge of the penalty area). 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,” Wright said on MOTD.

Arsenal’s £100m spend and £240k-a-week in wages, then, seems more than justified.