Arsenal are one of the best teams in the world right now.
The Gunners are on top of the Premier League and Champions League tables, and they are the favourites to win both competitions as well.
Mikel Arteta has world-class players in multiple positions on the pitch, and they could lead Arsenal to glory this season.
One player could even be a candidate to win the Ballon d’Or: Declan Rice.
Is there a better big-game player than Declan Rice?
Mikel Arteta says he hopes Declan Rice will win the Ballon d’Or
Rice has had an unbelievable season at Arsenal so far.
The England international hasn’t put a foot wrong all campaign, and he showed his class once again against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The German club’s players were all stunned by Rice, who deservedly won the Player of the Match award after Arsenal beat them 3-1.
Since his performance, there have been a few suggestions from Arsenal fans that Rice could go on to win the Ballon d’Or if he carries on playing at the same level.
In his press conference on Friday, Arteta was asked if his midfielder could win the prestigious award, and the Arsenal manager claimed that he hopes it will happen.
He said, as per the club’s official website: “I hope so! That would mean that we have won a lot, because normally it is related to that.
“I think he was immense the other day, I think he’s been immense since the start of the season, and he’s an incredible and crucial player for us.”
Can any current Arsenal player win the Ballon d’Or?
What Declan Rice will have to do to win the Ballon d’Or
No Arsenal footballer in history has ever won the Ballon d’Or before, which is shocking considering how many great players have been at the club over the years.
Rice is in the form of his life right now, and if he keeps performing at the same rate, he will be a contender for the award, along with other superstars like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
The two strikers will have the edge because of the goals they score, but if Rice leads Arsenal to the Premier League and Champions League titles and also goes far with England at the World Cup, he could actually become the favourite.
If Rice does win the Ballon d’Or, he will be the first Englishman since Michael Owen in 2001 to get the award.
That would be a phenomenal achievement, and we think he can do it!
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