Eberechi Eze claims one Arsenal player is actually better than Declan Rice

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Eberechi Eze has been asked to name the three best players he has ever played with.

Answering quickfire questions with FotMob, Eze named Michael Olise, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka as his top three.

Perhaps most notably, he places Saka in his top three ahead of his other Arsenal and England teammate, Declan Rice.

Rice has been widely considered Arsenal’s best player this season and has received plenty of plaudits heading into the summer.

His England manager Thomas Tuchel describes the Arsenal man as having the ‘highest football IQ’ and Ilkay Gundogan named him in his World Cup best XI.

🏆 Which Arsenal star will go the furthest at this summer’s World Cup?

Zubimendi and Spain? Saka and England? Saliba and France?

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But Eze suggests Saka is even better, despite a fairly average season on an individual level from the winger. He knows the level Saka is capable of playing at.

Arsenal’s World Cup contingent will be vital to England’s tournament

Of course, all three of Eze’s picks — as well as Rice — are focused on the World Cup, with England’s campaign getting underway on Wednesday 17 June against Croatia.

The Arsenal contingent will be central to England’s hopes, with Tuchel already highlighting the impact the Premier League champions have had on camp.

There are concerns, though, surrounding Saka’s fitness heading into the tournament.

Tuchel has admitted Saka is unable to train on consecutive days after playing through injury during Arsenal’s run-in.

Despite some good link-up play with Eze and Morgan Rogers, he didn’t quite look at his sharpest against Costa Rica, something Roy Keane noted on ITV, suggesting Saka has lost some of his spark.

That opens the door for others. Eze himself made a bright cameo against Costa Rica, excelling in Rice’s left eight role and winning the penalty that led to England’s second goal.

He may not start against Croatia, but he will be keen to make an impact from the bench.

Noni Madueke, meanwhile, has a golden opportunity to become the surprise star of the tournament should Saka’s fitness deteriorate further.

Ian Wright has already suggested that had Madueke scored against Costa Rica, he would have claimed the starting berth against Croatia.

Either way, Arsenal’s fingerprints are all over this England squad, and whether people like it or not, the Gunners are central to their World Cup ambitions.