Arsenal legend names the one player Mikel Arteta could not do without as injuries bite

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Arsenal legend Alan Smith believes Declan Rice would be the only player whose absence would be felt at the Emirates with the Gunners now boasting plenty of strength in depth.

Continued investment has been made over successive summers but their club-record signing from West Ham remains a pillar of the team, the like of which could not be replaced if he was to go down with an injury. In years gone by Arsenal have notice a drop off when some of their more established players have been hit with fitness issues. Last term they endured a striker shortage and previous to that an injury to William Saliba derailed their title ambitions.

Nowadays, they have sufficient cover . Jurrien Timber was signed several years ago to bolster the backline, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi have improved the midfield, while Eberechi Eze , Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres all came in to add noticeable firepower to the frontline.

However, Rice has a key role in the middle of the pitch. Regarded by many as the best in the world in his position, Smith claims that any issue for the Englishman would leave Arsenal struggling for answers, such is his level.

He told The Metro : "We’ve seen Arsenal lose a couple of key players, haven’t we? Martin Odegaard was perhaps the main one but [Eberechi] Eze came in and we haven’t really seen a drop-off.

"Declan Rice would be a big loss if he got injured because you would lose that drive in midfield and his set-piece ability which has become so important. They haven’t really got anybody to replace Rice. The defence has been superb but even at the back, [Cristhian] Mosquera has come in at times and they’ve got [Piero] Hincapie as well, so Rice would be the biggest loss for me."

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Micah Richards recently claimed that Rice had taken himself to another level with the £105million it cost to sign him looking good value as he continues to drive Arsenal's midfield.

He said: “I don’t like singling players out because it’s a team effort – and I have to give Mikel Arteta credit for building that – but I have to identify Declan Rice. He’s taken his game to the next level now where you’re taking about one of the best in world football.

“He can do everything and he’s consistently putting in these performances which mean we have to start talking about him as one of the best players in world football."

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