Declan Rice is widely regarded as Arsenal’s best player this season.
The England international hasn’t put a foot wrong all campaign and is one of the biggest reasons why Arsenal are leading the Premier League and Champions League tables.
If the Gunners go all the way in those two competitions, there is a conversation to be had about Rice being a contender for the Ballon d’Or.
Despite that, Paul Scholes is not ready to admit that the midfielder is the best in the Premier League right now.
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Paul Scholes thinks Arsenal star Jurrien Timber has been better than Declan Rice this season
If you stopped an Arsenal fan and asked them to name their side’s best player, almost everyone would pick Rice this season.
The former West Ham United man has been absolutely unbelievable in the middle of the park, and his contribution at both ends of the pitch has been massive.
Scholes has criticised Rice many times in the past. Although the Arsenal number 41 has proven him wrong with his performances, the pundit is still not ready to give him the massive praise he deserves.
On The Overlap, the Manchester United legend refused to name Rice as the best player in the Premier League and claimed that Jurrien Timber has been better than him.
He said: “Has Declan Rice been that special this year?
“I really like him, but I’m struggling to see that he is the best player in the league at this point. I think your defenders have probably had a bigger influence than Declan Rice.
“I like him, but I’m just saying I don’t think he is the best player in the Premier League this year.
“I just think your defenders have had a bigger influence, the likes of Timber. I think Timber has been unbelievable. I think he has been brilliant.”
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Rice would get our vote for Arsenal’s Player of the Season award, but an argument can be made for a few other players to win it as well.
As Scholes said above, Timber has been exceptional all campaignand definitely deserves a shout. The same can be said about Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, despite their injury struggles this season.
Leandro Trossard is another player who has been outstanding this term, and the same can be said about David Raya in goal.
Summer signing Martin Zubimendi has also contributed massively in what is arguably the most difficult position on the pitch.
It’s not an easy choice at all, but the business end of the season will tell us who the real winner is.
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