Schrodinger's international Declan Rice has scored his first professional goal for West Ham, putting his side in front against Arsenal with a cultured finish from inside the box.
The 19-year-old midfielder was having his usual quietly effective game, putting out fires in the Hammers' midfield, when he popped up in Arsenal's box on 48 minutes to sweep in the opener after being teed up by former Gunners star Samir Nasri:
19y 363d - Declan Rice (aged 19 years 363 days) is the first teenager to score a Premier League goal for West Ham since Junior Stanislas in November 2009. Talented. #WHUARS pic.twitter.com/9dBOyPOfWD
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 12, 2019
Crisp monger Gary Lineker couldn't help stirring the shit when tweeting his praise of the youngster:
Good finish from Declan Rice. Yet another fabulous young English prospect. ?
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 12, 2019
Much more than a defensive midfielder...great finish from Declan Rice. Good lay-off from Nasri, but that was an expert finish from Rice. #WHU
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) January 12, 2019
Declan Rice has already had a better career than Mark Noble.
— tehTrunk (@tehTrunk) January 12, 2019
Declan Rice now demoted behind Basmati, Pilau and Risotto in my favourites within the genre
— Michael Keshani (@MichaelKeshani) January 12, 2019
Didn't see the Declan Rice goal but I imagine he ripped off his jersey to show off his Eirinn go Brach t-shirt underneath when celebrating yeah? #WHUARS
— Aidan Delaney (@aidand472) January 12, 2019
In a recent interview with the Evening Standard Rice has promised that a decision on his international future is imminent:
With regard to my international future, myself, my dad and my brother [Connor] have talked with Ireland coach Mick McCarthy and I’ve also spoken to Gareth Southgate. They’ve both said that whenever I’m ready, it’s up to me to make a decision. There was so much going on earlier in the season but now most of that has been sorted, so I will make a decision soon.
