Upon his arrival at the club, the majority of Arsenal fans felt they knew what they were getting with Declan Rice: a midfielder who dominates the middle third of the pitch and does the dirty work so that others can thrive.

Somehow, despite his price tag, Rice has managed to surpass all expectations and asserted himself as one of the best players in the league.

When he signed, I was like most, excited to say the least.

This felt like Arsenal were once again competing with the big boys in terms of transfers and, most importantly, were operating as a top club should.

It was clear our midfield needed investment following the departure of Granit Xhaka, and instead of finding a player who could potentially be molded into the role, the club went out and bought someone who could not only slot in seamlessly, but change the dynamics of the team. He has been, quite simply, a transformative signing.

His arrival has changed Arsenal from a side that relied on special moments to one that invariably dictates and controls the tempo of matches.

They dominate possession and suffocate teams with their relentless passing.

While many teams operate with a double pivot at the base of their midfield, Rice is physical enough to hold the position himself, allowing Arsenal to have an additional attacking player in the starting XI. 

His work ethic is surreal.

When others look out on their feet, Rice is still making the same lung-busting runs to intercept the ball or apply pressure to the opposition.

At least a couple of times each game he will use this skill to win the ball high up the pitch to sustain pressure and keep the opposition penned in.

It is this skill that has helped to transform the Arsenal press and made them such a difficult team to break down.

It isn’t just his defensive nous that has endeared him to the Arsenal faithful.

He is a player for the big occasions, having notched vital goals throughout the campaign and now adding the ability to produce devastating deliveries from set-pieces to his repertoire.

Rice is arguably as complete a midfielder as Arsenal have had since Patrick Vieira

At the start of the season, he operated as a left-eight in a number of games, where although he still excelled, it was clear that this role was not getting the best out of him.

SInce reverting back to his preferred role as a defensive midfielder, he has continued to go from strength to strength.

Even in the recent victory over Liverpool when Jorginho was brought in to solidify the midfield, it was the Italian who was shifted from his preferred position at the base to the left side in order to keep Rice in the role that he has made his own.

Of course, at West Ham on Sunday all eyes were invariably going to be on Rice.

The Englishman produced a midfield masterclass, not only protecting the Arsenal back line but contributing two assists, before striking from distance to put the gloss on an outstanding display.

Cries from the away end of ‘ten more years’ may have been sung in jest, but if Arsenal are to continue their upward trajectory and become a side capable of winning the big prizes, there is no doubt that Declan Rice will be at the heart of it.