Paul Merson seems to prefer Arsenal’s Declan Rice over Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo but still rates the latter very highly.
Earlier in the season, there was a lot of debate about who the better midfielder is between Rice and Caicedo.
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Cole Palmer of Chelsea (L) celebrates scoring
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The two will clash when Chelsea take on Arsenal in the Premier League this Sunday, and Merson has spoken about them in the build-up to the London derby.
Moises Caicedo of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Burnley
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Paul Merson picks Declan Rice over Moises Caicedo
Merson was recently asked who he thinks the best midfielder in the world is right now. In response, he told The Overlap: “This is out of Rice and Caicedo. I’ll just go Rice.”
Caicedo will try to make his case at the Emirates when Chelsea travel there to face their rivals.
The 24-year-old will be hoping that things end differently compared to Chelsea’s last league match against Arsenal when he was sent off towards the end of the first half.
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Wesley Fofana's replacement after Chelsea red card
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Former manager Enzo Maresca would not have been happy with him that day. His successor Liam Rosenior was also displeased with Caicedo during Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Burnley after a failed backheel pass.
Declan Rice of Arsenal (right) and Moises Caicedo of Chelsea during the Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg match between Arsenal and Chelsea
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Why it has become difficult to actually compare Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice
In theory, it should be easy to compare Caicedo and Rice. They are both £100m midfielders playing for two of the biggest clubs in the world.
However, the reality is Caicedo and Rice no longer play the same role. Caicedo operates as a No.6 at Chelsea, while Rice is deployed as a No.8 at Arsenal. It is something that the England international has actually spoken about.
As Rice discussed Caicedo before Arsenal’s last league meeting against Chelsea, he said: “There’s so much comparison, but we are playing different positions — he’s a full-blown six and I am more of a box-to-box eight.”
If anything, right now, Enzo Fernandez would be a better comparison if Rice truly does consider himself as a pure No.8 now.
As a No.8, most Chelsea fans would prefer Fernandez, who has way more natural attacking ability and has shown that this season with all of the goals that he has scored. Sunday’s midfield battle involving all three players is going to be fascinating to watch.
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