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Declan Rice has been described as a “unique” player by Mikel Arteta, one who might hold the key to the club’s Premier League title hopes.

Rice will make his 300th Premier League appearance if he plays against Leeds United on Saturday afternoon, becoming the fifth youngest player to reach the milestone after Wayne Rooney, James Milner, Gareth Barry and Raheem Sterling.

Despite striking a frustrated yet determined figure during this recent Gunners slump, Arteta offered great insight into the positive feedback he regularly shares with his star midfielder.

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“In a healthy way, very much because they know they can come to me with any suggestions, especially how they feel and what is best for the team,” he said.

“That is for sure. We talk about the game, how we live every single day here, and he has a big responsibility.

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“He has the experience, the respect and admiration of the team and because he is someone that when someone has to perform, he is always there.”

Not only is Rice seemingly someone who is always there, but the Arsenal boss explained that the 27-year-old has become a figure that others must fall in behind.

“I will use the word demanding and setting standards”, Arteta said. “He is the one who, big time, is there every single day with us, with teammates and particularly with himself, which is the best way to set standards.

“If he does something, the others know they have to follow. I always said that I don’t know where Declan’s limit is. The more time you spend with him and watch him train and watch his games, he just gets better. Why? His fuel to improve is always there, he is so consistent.

"His physicality is amazing and mentally, he is a player that can cope with absolutely everything and that is very rare to see and that is why in my opinion we have a unique player and we have to give him more and more responsibility because we have to take it."

Rice may not hold the captain’s armband, but he is entrenched in the leadership group while the skipper, Martin Odegaard, continues to go through something of a tough patch.

Arteta, however, defended the Norwegian when his goal contributions, one goal and three assists, were highlighted as a potential cause for concern.

“So, those are the numbers, but we have to give the full numbers as well, that he's played much fewer minutes than any other season as well, because he's been injured three times,” Arteta said.

“That's the reality, we want to improve that for sure, and we want him affecting the game in the area that we can win football matches, that's for sure, but if you know Martin and how he works every single day, I have no doubt that that will come.”

A regular observation of the attacking midfielder’s game has been his tendency to drop deep, as low as the back four, to find the ball and then take it forward.

This then sees fewer offensive options available in the final third, and the attack suffers as a result.

When questioned on the matter, Arteta admitted his preference is for players like Odegaard to be higher up the pitch, but noted he wants to encourage his players’ own decision-making.

“It's a bit of his nature, and my nature is to go to the opposite side, but we need to respect as well the qualities and the talent of players,” he explained.

“And within that, they need to feel as well the freedom in attack, especially to do what they believe is best there.