Arsenal legend Paul Merson has unequivocally named midfielder Declan Rice as the club’s single most important player under the management of Mikel Arteta. Merson stressed that the Gunners cannot afford to lose the influential England international during their current pursuit of the Premier League title.
Merson has repeatedly praised the dynamic improvement shown by the twenty-six-year-old midfielder. He noted that Rice keeps developing daily, adding a crucial layer of midfield dominance to the squad.
The former Gunner singled out Rice’s recent performance in Europe as evidence of his value. He highlighted that the player was “absolutely outstanding” during Arsenal’s midweek UEFA Champions League clash against German giants Bayern Munich.
“For how big the squad is and how good it is, they cannot afford to lose Declan Rice. The man gets better and better and better,” Merson told Sky Sports, as quoted by Metro UK.
Merson further stated that Rice had essentially “run Bayern into the ground” with his relentless energy and tactical awareness throughout the match.
He concluded his assessment with absolute certainty: “He is Arsenal’s most important player – one million per cent.” Merson did, however, offer a commendation to another player, acknowledging that Martin Zubimendi also “deserves a mention,” describing his own performance as “phenomenal.”
Rice joined Arsenal in 2023, making the switch from Premier League side West Ham United. Since his arrival, he has been central to Mikel Arteta’s tactical setup and has delivered consistently impressive performances for the club.
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