Declan Rice has strongly defended Viktor Gyokeres' performances for Arsenal, despite the striker's recent struggles in front of goal. Rice's comments come after Arsenal's hard-fought 3-2 victory against Bournemouth, a match where Rice himself scored twice.

Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal in July 2025, has faced criticism for not meeting the high expectations set by his prolific goal-scoring record at Sporting Lisbon, where he scored 97 goals in 102 matches. This season, the Swedish international has only managed to find the net in four of his 18 Premier League appearances, with a total of seven goals in all competitions. His open-play goal drought has now extended to nine matches.

Despite the striker's recent goal-scoring woes, Rice has lauded Gyokeres as one of the best strikers in the world and insisted that Arsenal would not be in their current position without him. Arsenal currently sit atop the Premier League table, holding a six-point lead over Aston Villa.

Rice highlighted Gyokeres's contribution beyond goal-scoring, emphasizing his work rate and ability to create space for others. He pointed out a specific instance in the Bournemouth game where Gyokeres's run and hold-up play were crucial in the build-up to Rice's first goal. Rice said, "It's tough for him because he's got two defenders on him all game, all over him. So he has to use his strength, he has to do all he can to help the team". He further added, "without him making that run… that goal wouldn't happen".

Rice expressed confidence that Gyokeres's goal-scoring form will return, stating, "I see how hard he hits a ball, and when that space arrives for him and the ball's arriving at his feet to score goals, he will 100 percent score". He believes that Premier League defenders are particularly focused on stopping Gyokeres, acknowledging his status as a top striker.

Mikel Arteta has also praised Rice, calling him "world class" after his two-goal performance against Bournemouth. Arteta highlighted Rice's constant improvement and his crucial role in the team. Rice's performance, especially after recovering from a knee injury, has further solidified his importance to Arsenal's title challenge. In the match against Bournemouth, Rice showcased his leadership and quality, leading in passes and tackles in the first half.

Rice joined Arsenal in the summer of 2023 and quickly became an integral part of the team. In the 2024/2025 season, he was named Arsenal's Player of the Season.