Carragher Credits Rice's Repositioning as Arsenal's Season-Saving Masterstroke

Jamie Carragher has singled out Declan Rice and Mikel Arteta's recent tactical recalibration as the driving forces behind Arsenal's dramatic upturn in form, with the north London side perched on the brink of an unprecedented domestic and European double.

Bukayo Saka's strike at the Emirates on Tuesday capped a 2-1 aggregate victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final, propelling the Gunners five points clear of Manchester City with three league matches remaining.

Rice currently sits third in the Ballon d'Or betting after delivering performances of remarkable consistency throughout the campaign. Yet it was Arsenal's recent wobble that makes their recovery all the more significant. Before stringing together wins—a commanding 3-0 demolition of Fulham followed by their Champions League dispatch of Atletico—the side had shown signs of fraying.

The catalyst for this turnaround came via an unexpected lineup decision. Martin Zubimendi, who had been instrumental in Arsenal's strong opening months, found himself benched for both knockout ties. In his place came academy prospect Myles Lewis-Skelly, a move that pushed Rice into a deeper midfield position.

Speaking on CBS Sports, Carragher was emphatic about the impact of this repositioning. "Declan Rice was absolutely superb and the standout performer across both legs," the pundit explained. "What's interesting is that Arsenal reached this position through nine or ten months of solid work, but they were definitely wavering at the wrong moment."

He continued: "The shift to deploy Rice slightly deeper has proven hugely influential. His performance in Madrid was exceptional—he even took the Man of the Match award in the second leg. Between that fixture and the Fulham thrashing, we finally witnessed them playing with genuine freedom and composure. That's something we haven't really seen since they thumped Tottenham 4-1 in the north London derby."

With the Champions League final secured, Arsenal's path to glory now hinges on two crucial contests. A victory over West Ham this weekend would seal the Premier League title and complete the domestic element of an unlikely double.

"That tactical adjustment with Rice has been transformative," Carragher reflected. "They're now genuinely two matches away from winning both competitions. Obviously the final is still to come, but beat West Ham and the league is done. It's remarkable how different they look compared to just a fortnight ago."