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Declan Rice was once again performing at a really high level against Everton.
It is not even a surprise anymore. Arsenal fans know what they have to expect from a player of Rice's quality week in, week out, and even then, the Englishman still manages to surpass those expectations.
He is so good at a little bit of everything that sometimes, fans take it for granted. They don't realise just how good he plays on a very consistent level, and how reliable he is every season.
Since joining the club in 2023, Rice has only missed three games due to injury. That shows a level of durability, reliability and consistency that fans rarely see in the modern game.
Now, he is not just playing reliably. He is constantly Arsenal's best player, or at least a top-three player on the pitch, and even rival fans have started to talk about him in a way he deserves to be talked about.
Rival legends, like Wayne Rooney, have publicly praised him on countless occasions, talking about his quality on and off the ball, and what he brings to this Arsenal side.
Even a rival club's legend cannot stop admiring Declan Rice
Rooney was the most recent icon who talked about the former West Ham player, and he only had good things to say.
He said: “I have to say Declan Rice is incredible, it was a pleasure to watch. He was by far the best player on the pitch.
“For me, he’s the future captain of England. He’s the one who’s probably waiting for Harry to hang up his boots at some point.
“He was all over the pitch. His decision-making – when to pass it, where to pass it, what foot to pass it to, his detail on his pass – it was a pleasure to watch. He was absolutely incredible.
“He was splitting centre-backs, taking the ball off Arsenal’s centre-backs, acting as a third centre-back, then next minute he’s in the box, trying to score a goal. Sometimes, some of the stuff he does is a bit underrated.
“He’s the right one to take over Kane for me, because of his drive, his personality. Everyone seems to love him, who knows him, who’s close to him. He’s irreplaceable for England.”
Rooney is speaking facts here. Rice really is that good, and it is time people start realising it. English football fans in general talk about how good Rice is, but some fans of rival clubs downplay the level he is operating at strictly because he plays for Arsenal.
Rice, at the moment, is the best central midfielder in the Premier League, and people need to realise how good he is now, so that they can truly enjoy him dominate games at the World Cup next year, regardless of which club he plays for.