Sport
Outstanding Declan Rice is currently on the same level as Rodri when he won the Ballon d’Or
When Arsenal needed someone to step up and push them towards an important win over Bournemouth, Declan Rice obliged, scoring twice in a 3-2 victory. The 26-year-old has done that a lot in recent times. It was a similar story against Brighton when Rice filled in to great effect at right back. He is Arsenal’s go-to man in every possible situation.
The development of Rice’s game over the last few seasons has been remarkable. When Arsenal paid £105m to sign the midfielder from West Ham in July 2023, many believed the Gunners had landed one of the best anchors in the game. Over time, though, it’s become clear they got so much more.
These days, Rice can’t be categorised purely as a number six. He’s too forward-thinking for that. Indeed, the 26-year-old is among the best at driving forward from deep, putting Arsenal on his back to get them into the attack. There are elements of Yaya Toure to his game in that respect.
As a creator, Rice has also taken a big step forward. Only Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are averaging more key passes per 90 minutes this season than the England international who has a strong case for being the most dangerous and consistent corner kick taker in the world at this moment in time.
If Arsenal are to go on and win their first Premier League title since the Arsene Wenger era, it will be in no small part due to Rice. He is the best all-round midfielder in England and possibly the world. If Rodri can win a Ballon d’Or, as he did two seasons ago, there’s no reason to consider Rice as below that same level.
At the time of his Ballon d’Or triumph, Rodri was an unavoidable presence at the heart of the Manchester City midfield. He was the most important player for a team that dominated English and European football, winning an historic Treble that culminated in Rodri scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan.
There was simply nobody else at Rodri’s level, and the same could be said of Rice in his current form. Physically and technically, the 26-year-old is capable of controlling matches, in and out of possession, against the most formidable of opponents. Rice deserves to be mentioned among the best in the world.
“Declan is constantly adding things to his game, he’s constantly adding things to his role in the team,” said Mikel Arteta after Rice’s Man of the Match performance against Bournemouth. “I don’t see where he can stop because he can still improve in a lot of areas and he wants to improve. He’s such a pivotal player for us.”
Rice has spoken about his desire to add more goals to his game. The England international has registered four goals in 19 Premier League appearances this season, but could do more to directly impact matches in the final third. Rice has previously expressed admiration for the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
Nonetheless, Rice’s upward trajectory shows no sign of slowing any time soon. He is driving Arsenal towards the Premier League title and will surely be a key figure for England at the 2026 World Cup, when Thomas Tuchel’s team will be among the favourites to go the distance.
World Cup glory coupled with a Premier League title would surely make Rice a contender for the 2026 Ballon d’Or along with the likes of Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and the game’s other superstars. Rodri set the precedent for all central midfielders of his generation and Rice has followed that precedent with aplomb.
