Arsene Wenger has paid tribute to his former Arsenal assistant Pat Rice after the 63-year-old was appointed an MBE in the New Year Honours list.
Rice, who also made over 400 appearances for the Gunners as a defender, worked with Wenger for 16 years.
French boss Wenger said that Rice was the sort of man "you would love to be in the trenches with".
He said: "I am absolutely delighted because if someone deserves it, it is Pat Rice.
"He had 100% genuine commitment every day and you respect that when you see that from somebody, and he is someone you could go to war with.
"You would love to be in the trenches with Pat and those are very difficult qualities to find in modern society."
Rice said himself that news of the award had come as a "complete surprise".
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
