Chelsea icon Claude Makelele is an admirer of one current Arsenal player.
It’s no surprise that many members of Mikel Arteta’s squad are earning high praise, as the Gunners sit top of the Champions League and Premier League table.
Arsenal are favourites to win the Premier League title, with every player stepping up a level, some more than others.
One star who has been one of Arsenal’s very best this season is Declan Rice, a player operating at the top of his game.
- READ MORE: Declan Rice says unhappy Mikel Arteta summoned him to his office after what he did at Arsenal
Fill the blanks: The year is 2030 and Declan Rice is now worth £____.
Claude Makelele says Declan Rice is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League
Rice is getting better and better at Arsenal, relishing life under Arteta.
The 26-year-old has been one of the performers of the season so far, with Claude Makelele naming Rice as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
“Rice, Caicedo, Rodri. For me, he’s top level,” Makelele responded when asked to name his top three for Sky Sports.
No one can argue the Chelsea icon’s picks, however, Arsenal fans will contest another statement he made on the topic.
Makelele was also asked whether he believes Moises Caicedo is the best midfielder in the league, to which he said, “Of course, he is the best midfielder.”
Rice and Caicedo have been compared so many times, but as the season has progressed, the Arsenal star has prevailed as the most consistently impressive.
Declan Rice has one clear advantage over Moises Caicedo
Makelele also thinks Reece James is better than Jurrien Timber, showing his loyalty to his former club.
In the Rice and Caicedo argument, there’s one answer as to who is the better midfielder right now, and that is reliability.
Jamie Carragher thinks Declan Rice comparisons got to Moises Caicedo
Rice is one of the most disciplined midfielders in the Premier League, whereas Caicedo has already served two suspensions this season, collecting five yellow cards and a red.
The demands of the midfield role mean that discipline is key, and in that department, Rice ticks the boxes that Caicedo cannot.
It’s important to note that the Arsenal star is two years Caicedo’s senior, so there’s every chance that Chelsea’s man will develop that area of his game.
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