Emmanuel Petit believes Arsenal may very well be celebrating a Ballon d’Or winner on top of a Premier League title triumph come the top of the season.
Arsenal, bidding to win their first league title since 2004, boast a four-point lead over second-placed Manchester City with 12 games remaining.
The Gunners finished as runners-up for 3 years in a row but look well-placed to finally end their wait for a Premier League trophy.
Arsenal drew 1-1 with Brentford of their last league game but will expect to return to winning ways on Wednesday night once they face bottom-placed Wolves.
Mikel Arteta’s side, who’re still in all 4 competitions, then turn their attentions to Sunday’s huge north London derby against Tottenham.
Petit has backed Arsenal to clinch the Premier League for the primary time in 22 years and says that could lead on to much more silverware on a person level.
The Ballon d’Or award, handed out to the most effective player on the earth over the past 12 months, has never been won by an Arsenal star but Petit believes Declan Rice is the early frontrunner.
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Rice has performed superbly across Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League campaigns and can hope to play a giant part on this summer’s World Cup before the Ballon d’Or ceremony in September.
‘Declan Rice is potentially leading the race for the Ballon d’Or, but don’t forget there may be a World Cup at the top of the yr,’ Petit told Ignition Casino.
‘I feel that may very well be very essential for him, but he and the Arsenal team definitely must win something at the top of the season.
‘Declan Rice has been amongst the most effective midfield players for years now, but unfortunately, he has won nothing at Arsenal. If you wish to be a part of the best, you will have to win titles, definitely.
‘You’ve to be among the best players available on the market, but you furthermore mght must win trophies. It doesn’t mean anything if people recognize you as probably the most special players on the pitch, but you don’t win anything in any respect.’
The closest Arsenal have come to having a Ballon d’Or winner was in 2003 when Thierry Henry finished second behind Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved.
Rice, 27, has been arguably Arsenal’s most vital player since his £105m move from West Ham in 2023.
In addition to starring for the Gunners – being named in successive PFA Teams of the Yr – the midfielder has helped England reach two European Championship finals.
Earlier this month Gary Lineker named Rice as one in every of the leading contenders for the Premier League Player of the Season award.
‘We were talking a bit earlier on with a number of of the lads in regards to the Player of the Yr award and the possible frontrunners.
‘It’s only February so it’s early but when United proceed to go rather well and Bruno gets a number of more goals and assists… I mean, who else can be within the running?
‘Erling Haaland will probably be if he starts scoring again which he’ll. Declan Rice and Gabriel, who’s a implausible defender.
‘There’s nobody obviously for the time being m but he’s a bloody good footballer you realize, Bruno Fernandes. He’s a extremely good player.’
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