Bukayo Saka is viewed by many as Arsenal’s biggest player.
The academy graduate is the face of the club, the highest earner in the squad and the player who supporters look towards in the biggest moments.
Saka has carried enormous responsibility for years now and has handled it remarkably well despite still being so young.
However, Mikel Arteta has now suggested that another Arsenal star may actually be the club’s most important figure – Declan Rice.
If Declan Rice was worth £105m in 2023, what would his value be in 2026?
Mikel Arteta suggests Declan Rice is Arsenal’s biggest player
When Arsenal spent more than £100 million to sign Rice from West Ham, the expectation was that he would become one of the leaders of Arteta’s project.
However, it now sounds like the Arsenal manager believed the midfielder could become something even bigger than that.
Rice has been absolutely phenomenal ever since arriving in North London and has delivered elite performances almost every single week.
The England international’s consistency, mentality and leadership have made him one of the driving forces behind Arsenal becoming Premier League champions.
Arteta clearly saw those qualities long before Rice even kicked a ball for the club.
Speaking recently, the Arsenal boss revealed on TNT Sports: “With Declan, I was so convinced that he was going to be the lighthouse of this football club because he’s got that power.
“I said, ‘If you are able to put yourself in the benefit of the team, I think the team is going to make you the biggest player in this club, and it will happen in that order.’”
Arteta then praised Rice even further for the impact he has had this season.
He added: “He’s been phenomenal. He’s been an inspiration for all the boys. When you talk about a player with that level of consistency for that many games, it’s just something remarkable, and yeah, we are here because of players like him, that’s for sure.”
That clearly sounds like a manager talking about the centrepiece of his entire team.
🤔 Is Declan Rice a number six or a number eight?
Declan Rice could overtake Bukayo Saka at Arsenal
Even though Bukayo Saka is still viewed as Arsenal’s franchise player, there is now a genuine argument that Rice has become just as important – if not more.
The midfielder has arguably been Arsenal’s most consistent performer ever since joining the club and is a serious contender for Player of the Season once again.
That level of reliability is incredibly rare.
Only a few months ago, Arsenal told agents that nobody at the club would earn more than Saka. However, if Rice continues performing at this level, that stance may eventually need to change.
When contract negotiations begin this summer, Arsenal may have no choice but to make Rice their top earner too.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
