A year ago, the debate over who was the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League was 3-pronged: Thomas Partey, Rodri, Casemiro. Declan Rice was then considered by many as “best of the rest”.
Since Rice joined Arsenal in July, there is no longer a debate as to who is the best in the Premier League. Rice is now clear of the trio above. And such is Rice’s improvement, I think you will find very few debating against the view that he is the best cetral midfielder in world football.
Rice was always a very good “backs to the wall battler,” he had to be playing for West Ham. He excelled when opponents would pile on the pressure and his role would be to stop, block, intercept, clear, reset. These are natural attributes that have taken Arsenal’s defensive play to the next level. We recruited a player who will cover every blade of grass and put on his body on the line to defend a lead, to stop an opponent.
Where Rice has taken his game to a new level as he no longer sees his job to merely be “stop, block, intercept, clear, reset”.
At a team like Arsenal, the game is not about getting the ball up the pitch and then wait for the next wave of attack. After he has won the ball, he now gets his head up and decides how we will transition the ball from defence to attack, releasing the pressure by starting our attacking plays.
To highlight the difference in the way he is playing, the amount of passes he makes per game has increased since joining The Arsenal, as has his completion ratio. Meanwhile, he is playing about half as many long balls compared to his time at West Ham.
Once Rice has won the ball, he now looks for a forward passing opportunity to a team mate, rather than just smashes the ball clear into the channels for a Michail Antonio or Jarrod Bowen to run on to. Of course, it helps he is playing with better players at The Arsenal, and playing with better players make you a better player.
Rice does not just look to make a simple pass, however, when trying to launch an attack. He is also Patrick Vieira-esque in the way he can drive forward with the ball at his feet.
When Rice gets going, he is nearly impossible to stop. Like with Vieira, and Yaya Toure, he is a mountain of a man who is nearly impossible to fairly dispose, and has enough pace that when he brushes off an opponent, he can run clear.
I have lost count how often he has broken through the lines this season, running with the ball from the mid-way of our own half deep into the opponents. This not only releases the pressure but also creates attacking opportunities.
What is impressive about Rice is that Yaya and Vieira needed someone in behind them (Fernandinho, Petit/Gilberto) who did the bulk of the defensive work. Rice gets through the defensive work of Gilberto and the transitional play of Vieira. He really is two players in one.
And this will benefit England.
When Gareth Southgate’s side made the final at the last Euro’s, England played with a duel defensive wall – Rice and Kalvin Phillips. Such is Rice’s improvement since than that Southgate only needs Rice – a single pivot defensive midfielder.
Rice’s presence will allow Southgate to have two more attacking options on the pitch – likely to be Jude Bellingham and one of Phil Foden, James Maddison or Mason Mount. Without Rice’s progress this season, Southgate would probablybe looking at playing Jordan Henderson or Phillips next to Rice.
When you look at what Rice is currently doing on a football pitch, I struggle to look at another central midfielder who is having a similar impact.
Injuries to Thomas Partey and Casemiro have impacted their ranking, whilst Rodri does not have the ball carrying and attacking skills of Rice. Rodri also does not have Rice’s discipling (Rice: 1 yellow card, Rodri: 6 yellow and 1 red card).
Outside the Premier League, Joshua Kimmich is fantastic but does not have Rice’s physique that allows him to dominate physically. Kimmich also rarely drives forward with the ball at his feet. It is no surprise that the German is apparantly on Manchester City’s wish list, but Kimmich just does not dominate a game like Rice (and plays at a lower level in the Bundesliga).
Aurelien Tchouameni is another who is fantastic central midfielder. The Frenchman will be a contender for “best in the world” alongside Rice, but for now I feel he is the level below.
The last contender to Rice’s crown is Manuel Ugarte, but his progress would have stalled having signed for PSG. Ligue 1 is such a poor standard and it feels like players careers die when they move to PSG.
There a load of midfielders, such as Martin Odegaard, Luka Modric, Alexis Mac Allister and Bruno Guimarães who dominate when on the ball and are stylisih players, but do not have the defensive work rate of Rice.
Rice could play further up the field, where these guys do their best work, but they could not play as the deepest, most defensive midfielder.
What I think is crazy about Rice as well is he is still only 24. He is still getting better and under a coach like Mikel Arteta, he will continually add new attributes to his game.
Like Yaya Toure, Rice has the ability to become a 10-goal a season or more man. But where Rice is better is he will not lose that defensive edge whilst seeking goals – in Toure’s later years he began completely neglecting his defensive duties and only cared about scoring.
Rice is the best in the world, and is still getting better!
UTA
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 