Declan Rice of Arsenal challenges Sandro Tonali of Newcastle during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St James' Park on September 28, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.placeholder image
Declan Rice of Arsenal challenges Sandro Tonali of Newcastle during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St James' Park on September 28, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Some Premier League greats have disagreed over who the best midfielder in the Premier League is with Arsenal man Declan Rice in the conversation
There would be few, if any, associated with Arsenal who would believe the £105m deal to sign Declan Rice from West Ham United has not proven to be value for money.
The 26-year-old arrived at the Gunners two years ago and has been a huge part of the club’s rise back to the top of English football. Arsenal have yet to win a major trophy since Rice joined the club but Mikel Arteta’s men are now regular contenders for the Premier League title and last campaign reached the semi-final of the Champions League.
He has made 117 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 17 goals and providing 23 assists from midfield. There is debate over if he is the best midfielder in the Premier League with Chelsea star Moises Caicedo debated to be one of, if not the best, in his position.
However, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes believes it is Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali who is the best.
What Paul Scholes said about Newcastle United ace Sandro Tonali
Speaking on The Overlap, Paul Scholes said of Tonali: “I still don’t class Caicedo as an all-round midfield player. I know he scored a great goal and was brilliant the other day,” when asked who he thought was the Premier League’s best midfielder.
“I got some stick last year, having a go at him, and I almost thought about taking that back because he was brilliant in the Club World Cup.
“I just prefer the controlling type of midfield players who play with a bit more style and can score goals a bit more often than Caicedo. I love Tonali. He’s been brilliant. Very good. I would probably choose Tonali at this point. Yes, you’re going to say Rice, but I think he’s better than him.”
Roy Keane and Ian Wright disagree with Paul Scholes as they back Declan Rice
When discussing the Premier League’s best midfielder, Roy Keane said on Stick to Football: "Rice... every day of the week."
He continued: "That package. He's got a little bit extra on all the other parts on Caicedo. I'd go with Rice."
Arsenal legend Ian Wright was in agreement with Keane. There is no doubt that both Scholes and Keane know what it takes to succeed as a midfielder in the Premier League and both rate Rice highly, even if they disagree over his ranking.
This season Rice has scored one goal and provided three assists in seven Premier League appearances for Arsenal. The Gunners are top of the league with the international break in full swing. They beat West Ham in their last outing to move one point above Liverpool - who lost to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with a dramatic stoppage time goal from the hosts.
It was the Reds’ second-straight defeat in London as they had also thrown a point away in stoppage time against Crystal Palace to allow Arsenal to overturn a five-point deficit.
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