Jarrod Bowen says Arsenal have a player who is way better than everyone thinks he is

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Jarrod Bowen believes Arsenal have a player in their squad who isn’t appreciated enough in the mainstream.

The Gunners have assembled an outstanding squad in recent years, which has been bolstered significantly over this summer.

Andrea Berta signed eight players to improve Mikel Arteta’s ensemble, spending over £250 million in the process.

However, Bowen has highlighted one of those who was already at the Emirates prior to this unprecedented transfer window as being underrated.

• READ MORE: Confirmed Arsenal summer 2025 transfer ins and outs, signings and done deals

Jarrod Bowen says Declan Rice is ‘underrated’

Arsenal signed Declan Rice for £100 million in the summer of 2023.

While generally regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, some would suggest that the 26-year-old still doesn’t quite get the recognition he deserves.

The most athletic all-round midfielder in one of the best teams in Europe, Rice won Arsenal’s player of the year award last season, and the Gunners generally look significantly worse without the England international.

Speaking to BBC Sport whilst on international duty this week, the midfielder’s former teammate and West Ham captain Bowen cited Rice when asked who the most underrated player in the current Three Lions squad is.

“Declan Rice,” he replied emphatically.

“He’s my friend.”

Perhaps not garnering the plaudits his performances should merit because he’s not the most glamorous footballer in the final third, Rice’s work often goes somewhat under the radar.

Arsenal are the best team in the world out of possession, and this is largely because of Rice’s exceptional defensive and pressing capabilities.

Meanwhile, the ex-West Ham man is also an excellent technician, demonstrating his technical quality with his two free-kicks against Real Madrid last season.

Declan Rice’s statistics 2024/25

Rice can do almost everything to a very high level.

Having previously been a relatively one-dimensional defensive midfielder whose primary function was to win the ball back, he has developed into a box-to-box number eight who thrives in every facet of the game.

As shown by the data above, Rice still wins the ball back a lot, but he’s also an exceptional ball carrier and a prolific progressive passer.

Perhaps most strikingly, the number 41 has developed an ability to influence the game in the final third, mustering up eleven goal contributions in the Premier League last season, as well as 1.88 key passes.

If he can make small strides in every area of his game this season, then he’ll arguably be the undisputed best midfielder on the planet.