Declan Rice has been one of the Premier League’s standout performers this season, leading the league with five assists, all from open play, and earning player of the match honors as Arsenal beat Liverpool on Sunday. The 27-year-old has helped the Gunners storm to the top of the table, and the praise has followed.
Rice has been called a future England captain, one of the best midfielders Arsenal have ever had, and, by Mikel Arteta’s own naming, a “lighthouse.” Since joining Arsenal in 2023, he has scored and assisted 55 goals, a somewhat underrated return for a player whose energy is usually cited as his main strength.
A change in role
Arteta had a conversation with Rice at the start of the season. He told the midfielder he was no longer the “lighthouse,” the nickname the manager had previously given him, and that he expected more this season. Arteta has said he will reveal Rice’s new nickname at the end of the campaign, but the message clearly landed.
Rice referenced that talk after the Liverpool win. “The way I’ve started this season is the position that suits me the most,” he told Match of the Day. “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.”
He added: “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.”
Managing the workload
Rice has said he prefers to play three games a week to find the rhythm of a season. After 55 games for Arsenal last season, neural hamstring pain and a World Cup run to the semi-finals with England, however, the number of matches began to take its toll. This season, the signing of Bruno Guimaraes has allowed Arsenal to rest Rice for EFL Cup fixtures, and England rested him during the last international break.
Praise from all corners
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher called Rice “world class” after his latest dominant performance. “He’s one of the best midfield players Arsenal have ever had,” Carragher said. “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, who scored the winning goal against Liverpool, said that “90%” of that goal belonged to Rice, pointing to the midfielder’s energy and the quality of the ball he played to set it up.
A more fluid midfield
Arsenal’s midfield has rotated more this season, and opposition managers have noted how difficult that makes them to defend against. Rice has sometimes anchored the base of the midfield. With Guimaraes arriving and Myles Lewis-Skelly playing alongside him, Rice has also been free to push into higher positions. He has started every Premier League and Champions League game so far, helping Arsenal get off to a strong start.
Contract talks
Discussions over a new contract are ongoing. Arteta said Rice “wants to continue here for the long term and it will be a matter of time when we resolve that.”