Arsenal star Rice has last laugh over Roy Keane after Man Utd legend's criticism
Declan Rice poked fun at Roy Keane after notching Arsenal's winner against Manchester United with the Irishman previously saying the midfielder doesn't get enough goals.
The club's record signing fired home a stoppage time strike to put the Gunners ahead in the 95th minute when the game looked like it would end 1-1. It is Rice's first goal for his new club with the Englishman by no means known for his goalscoring exploits.
Last term Rice was linked with a move to a big club and a hefty fee was talked about with the player eventually moving across the capital for £105m. Keane though has commented on the 24-year-old's lack of goals, which he thought was an issue.
The Irishman said last season: "He doesn’t score enough goals and he doesn’t get enough assists. Listen I’ve been a fan of him, he turns up every week theres talk of him going for big money and going to one of the big clubs and playing in the Champions League he needs to do a lot more. It’s as simple as that."
Rice came over for a post-match chat with Sky Sports with the presenter reminding the Arsenal man about his perceived lack of goals as Rice joked: "What do you reckon Roy?" He replied: "Own goal" with the ball appearing to take a slight deflection, not that it will take the goal away from the Gunners man.
The match winner highlighted his own development by adding: "The old me would've set that back for a cross not going to lie. When I was a youngster, I would've played that back to (Fabio) Vieira. But last minute of the game, fine margins and if you don't shoot you don't score."
Declan Rice put Arsenal ahead in stoppage time (AFP via Getty Images)Rice's best goalscoring season during his time at West Ham was five, which he's achieved in his past two seasons. His first strike for the Gunners has come in his fourth game for the north Londoners and Keane is adamant the midfielder can become more potent by playing alongside quality players.
He said: "It will be huge for Declan. What we have been saying about Declan is that he needs to get more goals and assists and he will do that with better players around him. It is an important goal in a big game and it means fans will take to him even quicker."
Arsenal had to come from behind at the Emirates with Marcus Rashford opened the scoring in the first-half, but they led for seconds as Martin Odegaard went up the other end to level the scores. VAR chalked off a goal for Alejandro Garnacho five minutes before Rice's striker with Gabriel Jesus later adding a third.
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