Author: americalatinanews.com

Rice has continued to flourish for Arsenal in a more attacking midfield role – having initially been a defensive midfielder for West Ham, and when first moving to the Emirates.

This season he has played more passes into the box than any other Premier League player – 146.

He ranks in the top 10 for touches, chances created and times he has won possession.

Rice has four Premier League goals this season – only Viktor Gyokeres and Leandro Trossard (both five) have more for the Gunners – while Belgian forward Trossard is his only team-mate to top his three assists.

Meanwhile, Rice is the top-ranking Arsenal player for line-breaking passes (142) and progressive carries (188).

Arteta said: “He is extremely consistent on everything that you ask him to do, and that is what makes the difference.

“Firstly, he has the abilities and the qualities to achieve that, but then you need the consistency to do it, and he is doing it every single day, and then you see that kind of performance.”

On being told it was the first time he has scored twice in a league game, Rice told Sky Sports: “That’s a crazy stat.

“I haven’t scored a lot this season, I’d only scored two, so to grab a brace today in an important victory was a really nice feeling. When you win and you’re able to help out the team like I did today always adds that extra bit of a special feeling.”

Rice has scored five goals in 12 Premier League games against Bournemouth, more than double the goals he has scored against any other team in the league.

Perhaps most telling of all, on a bitterly freezing afternoon against St Mirren, more than 7,000 supporters draped in claret and amber turned out.

They know these are the days of their dreams.

Smiles from Tuesday’s wiping of the floor with Celtic were still ear-to-ear as positive punters pitched up at Fir Park, but many knew their grins would quickly be gone if the visitors from Paisley were not seen to.

Pre-match, the steady Askou refused to get caught up in the plentiful plaudits his side have been paid in the recent days and instead focused on the threat of St Mirren, highlighting how they outdid them at Hampden two months ago.

In truth, his worries never appeared to be realised.

Though the visitors started on the front foot, their few flurries forward were fruitless with Well’s backline unbothered as they cruised to their seventh straight home clean sheet.

And not for the first time this season, as soon as Motherwell settled, they were never troubled.

“I have to give all the credit to the players out there,” Askou told BBC Scotland post-match.

“We’ve had some trouble with St Mirren so it was a sweet feeling to get our revenge.

“They produced a lot of great moments, two beautiful goals and chances for more while we were extremely focused in defence, won a lot of duels and second balls in some critical areas.”

Having beaten Falkirk 1-0 and Kilmarnock 2-1 at Dens since Christmas, Dundee went along the road to Tannadice full of confidence and were able to celebrate at full-time with a jubilant away end.

Dundee are now unbeaten on their past four visits to Tannadice and avenged their derby defeat at Dens earlier in the season.

“We knew coming into this game – we’re on the back of two really important results – but we know the importance of this game,” Pressley said.

“It was a pivotal game and I couldn’t be prouder of the players.”

Former United manager Ian McCall was at Tannadice as a pundit having also watched Dundee lose 1-0 at Motherwell on 20 December.

He was impressed by the improvement since that game and says the result was “thoroughly deserved”.

“Dundee had no attacking intent at Motherwell,” he said.

“It’s only two or three weeks later, but they look full of confidence. The Dundee United back three didn’t know how to handle Ashley Hay.

“Fair play to Steven Pressley. You can comment on his record, but you can never think he won’t be up for a fight.”

Before Dundee stunned Celtic in October, they struggled in the league, winning only one of their first eight matches.

Pressley admits he has been through tough moments during a testing campaign, but says his players have kept him going.

“They are an amazing group,” he said. “It’s been a difficult season and they have helped me get out of my bed at times.

“I love working with them – every day they want to be better and they are beginning to find their way. Hopefully this is the start of something good.

“I know there will be moments where you have setbacks, but as long as we stay strong, hopefully we can build something.”