West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini believes Declan Rice is becoming a “complete player” after the 19-year-old gave the Hammers victory over Arsenal.
Rice’s superb finish – his first Premier League strike – was the only goal at London Stadium, denting Arsenal’s top-four ambitions.
“He is improving in every game,” Pellegrini told Sky Sports. “He has showed good technique and is good in aerial duels, I think we are seeing the complete player. At 19 years old, I am sure we will see a top, top player.”
Rice beat Bernd Leno with a first-time shot after a good lay-off by Samir Nasri, who was making his first top-flight appearance in England since August 2016.
The maiden top-flight goal comes two weeks after Rice signed a new contract that will keep him with the Hammers until 2024.
Before that, the international future of Rice, who can play at centre-back or in centre midfield, had been in the headlines.
He has earned three caps for the Republic of Ireland, all in friendlies, and the London-born man could yet decide to declare for England.
In a highly-competitive London derby, Alexandre Lacazette was denied by an excellent save from Lukasz Fabianski as Arsenal failed to score in the league for the first time since the opening day of the season.
West Ham were full value for their win, with Marko Arnautovic, Rice, Nasri and Felipe Anderson all going close when the game was goalless.
While West Ham move up to eighth in the table after a sixth win in nine league games, Arsenal remain fifth.
The Gunners are three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who entertain Newcastle at 17:30 GMT.
This was a result to remember for Manuel Pellegrini and West Ham, with the performance a fitting way to mark 50 Premier League games at London Stadium.
Bournemouth, Wolves, Tottenham, Manchester City and Watford have all won at the venue this season.
Yet the Hammers turned in one of their best performances under Pellegrini to claim a first win over Arsenal since 2015.
Nasri brought an air of authority and added quality to the midfield while Marko Arnautovic was busy and inventive despite the player’s agent and brother saying the Austrian striker wants to move to a Chinese club during this transfer window.
The 29-year-old did, however, wave to fans when he was replaced with 20 minutes to go.
West Ham are not home again until 4 February – after the transfer window closes – and if Arnautovic was saying his goodbyes, at least West Ham’s future is bright in the shape of Rice.
The teenager has been a revelation this season and played with an air of maturity way beyond his years.
After spurning a good chance to open the scoring on the stroke of half-time when he headed wide, Rice punished Arsenal’s defence with a superb finish into the roof of the net after a poor headed clearance.
Arsenal are now without a win in five league games away from the Emirates Stadium and are playing catch-up in the race for a Champions League place.
Only leaders Liverpool and Manchester City have found the net more than the Gunners, but against West Ham they failed to score in the league for only the second time this season – and have not kept a clean sheet since 8 December.
Perhaps more worryingly for Unai Emery’s side, they rarely looked like getting back on level terms after Rice’s special finish.
Emery even sent on Aaron Ramsey, who will leave Arsenal at the end of the season, to try and rescue his side.
Arsenal had started well enough with Alexandre Lacazette looking particularly sharp and strong.
Teenager Matteo Guendouzi went close from outside the area when the game was goalless, while Aaron Creswell made a superb challenge to deny a rare chance for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
On a day to forget for Arsenal, captain Laurent Koscielny did find the net in the third minute of stoppage time but his header was ruled out for offside.