Is Declan Rice The Best Midfielder In The World Right Now?

Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final victory over Real Madrid will be remembered for the lightning strike that happened twice within just 12 minutes of the first leg. Until then Declan Rice had never scored a freekick in his senior career as a professional. Then he struck two as the Gunners made it through to the final four.

The 3-0 win over the defending European champions was a defining night in Rice’s career. He, more than any other player in red and white on the pitch, sent Arsenal through to the semi-finals of the Champions League with Mikel Arteta’s team now among the favourites to become European champions.

It was, however, in the second leg that Rice try demonstrated his quality as arguably the best midfielder in the world at this moment in time. The 26-year-old might not have found the back of the net twice, as he did in the first leg, but he was the controlling influence that saw Arsenal ease through to the Champions League semi-finals.

Rice’s development over the last few years has been remarkable. Bought from West Ham for £105m in the summer of 2023, he was already considered one of the best midfielders in the Premier League at that time. Many believed Rice would operate at the base of the midfield unit for the Gunners.

Instead, Rice has moved further forward. He is now more of a number eight than a number six and this slight position change has allowed him to have a greater influence on matches. Martin Odegaard might be Arsenal’s creator in-chief, but Rice is the one who gives the Gunners control through his use of the ball.

Against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, Rice was everywhere. He will need to find the same level of performance to give Arsenal a chance against Paris Saint-Germain. If Rice thought taking on the defending European champions was a challenge, facing arguably the best midfield unit in Europe will be even tougher.

Nonetheless, Rice is operating at such a high level that nothing should intimidate him. Arsenal is well-placed to go even deeper in this season’s Champions League with the England international at the centre of everything good it is doing right now. Rice might well be the best midfielder in the world and the semi-final against PSG is another opportunity for him to show it.