Mikel Arteta explains Max Dowman red card reaction at Arsenal press conference
Mikel Arteta explains Max Dowman red card reaction at Arsenal press conference
Last season, pundits as well as Arsenal and Chelsea supporters were split with regard to who was the best midfielder in the league.
Both Rice and Caicedo have established themselves among the leading players in their position since their £100million-plus transfers from West Ham and Brighton respectively in the summer of 2023.
However, after Rice put in an impressive performance in Arsenal’s win over Liverpool on Sunday - providing the assist for Kai Havertz - Carragher is now of the opinion that the England international has cemented his standing as the very best in the division.
"He’s the best midfield player in the Premier League by a long way. It’s not even a debate,” Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday post-show.
“It was a debate last season about him and Caicedo, it’s not even close. Declan Rice is the best midfield player in this country.
"I’m not an Arsenal fan, but sometimes I hear people speak about him.
"And I’m sort of flabbergasted that they don’t understand football and they’re not watching the same game as me.
“He is a world class midfield player, there is absolutely no doubt about it and one of the best midfield players Arsenal have ever had and they’ve had some great ones when you think of [Patrick] Vieira and Liam Brady going back further.
Carragher may have been taking a swipe at Graeme Souness as the former Liverpool player and manager has been extremely critical of Rice as a midfielder this season.
“He’s not a midfield player then is he? I think he may be a centre-half. The ball travels faster than you do. I see him run with the ball 30 yards and pass it square," Souness told Piers Morgan on Football Uncensored.
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