The lighthouse? One of the best midfielders that Arsenal have ever had? A future England captain?
These are just some of the things that have been said about Declan Rice.
The Arsenal midfielder has hit the ground running this season and the praise has come rolling in.
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The 27-year-old has been one of Arsenal’s standout performers as they have stormed to the top of the Premier League and was player of the match as the Gunners beat Liverpool on Sunday.
He already has five assists in the league this season, the most of any player, and all of them have come from open play after having his role changed by Mikel Arteta.
Rice has scored and assisted 55 goals since joining the Gunners in 2023, a somewhat underrated output for a player whose energy is so commonly spoken about as his main strength.
Arteta said he had a talk with Rice at the beginning of the season and told him he is no longer Arsenal’s “lighthouse” – a name he had given him – and that he expected more this season.
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The Arsenal manager said he will reveal Rice’s new nickname at the end of the season but that chat clearly stuck with Rice, who referenced the conversation after the Liverpool win.
“The way I’ve started this season is the position that suits me the most. I’ve played in eight, I’ve played six, I’ve played everywhere in midfield. But what suits me the best and the conversation I had with the manager at the start of the season, I’ve done well but he believes I can still do more and he’s drilled that into me.” Rice told Match of the Day.
“This season I’ve really tried to attack that part going forward, trying to come up with assists, create chances, create moments.
“But being behind the ball as well, linking the play, being involved with all aspects for me is my best position. Whatever the manager decides, I’ll do.”
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Rice has previously said he likes to play three games a week to pick up a rhythm of a season but, after 55 games for Arsenal last season, neural hamstring pain and a World Cup run to the semi-finals with England, the amount of games started to take its toll.
However this season, with the signing of Bruno Guimaraes, Rice has afforded a break for the games in the EFL Cup – and he was rested by England in the last international break.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher called him “world class” after his latest dominant performance.
“He’s one of the best midfield players Arsenal have ever had,” Carragher said.
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“They’ve obviously had some great ones. He’s right up there with the best of them. He’s the best midfield player in the Premier League by a long way. It’s not even a debate.”
Kai Havertz said that “90%” of his winning goal against Liverpool belonged to Rice, such was the energy of Rice and quality of the ball he put in to assist the German.
Arsenal’s midfield has rotated more this season, with opposition managers mentioning how difficult it is to defend against.
Rice has at times anchored the base of the Arsenal midfield but, with the addition of Guimaraes, as well as playing with Myles Lewis-Skelly, he has been allowed to also take up positions higher up the pitch.
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Rice has still started all of the Premier League and Champions League games, helping Arsenal to make a strong start to the season.
Talks have been ongoing about a new contract, with Arteta saying Rice “wants to continue here for the long term and it will be a matter of time when we resolve that”.
