Arsenal star is turning into “the most effective on the planet”

As is the case with each membership of their dimension, Arsenal have had some actually particular gamers characterize them within the Premier League period.

The likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pirès terrified defenders, whereas Sol Campbell and Tony Adams did the identical to opposition attackers.

The Gunners have additionally been blessed with some unbelievable midfielders during the last 25 years or so, such because the legendary Patrick Vieira.

No person has fairly been capable of stay as much as the Frenchman since, however there may be one participant in Mikel Arteta’s aspect who’s beginning to emulate him.

Arsenal’s finest midfielders within the Premier League

Because the listing of Arsenal’s finest Premier League midfielders might be an extended one, this high three contains solely central and defensive midfielders.

Moreover, the gamers should now not be on the membership, as at the moment, Arteta’s aspect are but to win something important.

With that out of the way in which, coming in at quantity three needs to be the unbelievable Gilberto Silva.

The Brazilian monster joined the membership in the summertime of 2002 and went on to make 244 appearances over the subsequent 5 years, scoring 24 objectives and offering 14 assists.

As soon as described as the person who “carried the piano for Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo to play their tunes on” by the outlet Veja, the usually underappreciated titan carried out an identical position in North London that noticed him depart with one league title, two FA Cups and two Group Shields.

Simply pipping Gilberto into second place is Cesc Fàbregas, as whereas he was no stranger to enjoying increased up the pitch, he spent most of his time in North London enjoying centrally.

The Spaniard could have left on poor phrases, however he did so with an unbelievable report of 57 objectives and 95 assists in 303 video games, through which he received one FA Cup and one Group Protect.

Lastly, first place merely needed to be for Captain Unbelievable himself, Vieira.

Arriving from AC Milan in the summertime of 1996, the French worldwide would go on to assist remodel the Gunners’ midfield and depart as a bona fide legend.

Along with captaining the aspect throughout the Invincible season, the monstrous midfielder finally left the membership after making 405 appearances, throughout which he scored 32 objectives, offered 47 assists, received three league titles, 5 FA Cups, and three Group Shields.

The Arsenal star turning into Arteta’s Vieira

Whereas they should win one thing important first, there are a number of stars on this Arsenal workforce who might simply grow to be legends in their very own proper over the approaching years.

Nonetheless, relating to the participant who might, and appears like they’ll grow to be Arteta’s personal Vieira, it needs to be Declan Rice.

The Gunners’ £105m has been a superb participant for them since his mega cash transfer in the summertime of 2023, however during the last 12 months, and particularly this season, he has actually stepped it up and is now beginning to emulate a few of the Frenchman’s finest qualities.

For instance, whereas he’s now not an out-and-out six, he stays a defensive and bodily powerhouse and somebody who’s more than pleased to throw his weight round to disrupt opposition assaults.

For instance, Fbref nonetheless ranks him within the high 16% of midfielders throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues for the proportion of aerial duels received per 90 minutes.

Furthermore, whereas he doesn’t have the armband for the membership, he’s nonetheless one of the crucial vocal gamers on the pitch and is likely one of the 5 gamers within the supervisor’s management group.’

Lastly, along with possessing the perspective and bodily traits of the Gunners legend, the previous West Ham star can be comparable when it comes to footballing capability.

Whether or not it is a dead-ball state of affairs or throughout play, the Englishman is one in all “the most effective on the planet,” per Thomas Frank, and has the power to ping the ball precisely the place he needs it, and during the last couple of campaigns has grow to be much more of a aim menace.

Each of those traits have been on full show towards Burnley on the weekend and can undoubtedly be once more for the subsequent recreation.

Finally, whereas the comparability will not be actually applicable till he lifts a title with Arsenal, it’s clear that Rice is turning into Arteta’s personal Vieira.