Micah Richards believes Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has ‘taken his game to the subsequent level’ and is now ‘probably the greatest players in world football’.
Rice played a starring role in Premier League leaders Arsenal’s routine win over Burnley on Saturday, taking the corner which resulted in Viktor Gyokeres’ opener after which scoring himself.
The England star has made a huge effect at Arsenal since his £105m move from West Ham in 2023 and Richards insists he’s integral to Arsenal’s title hopes.
Mikel Arteta’s side, runners-up within the Premier League for the past three seasons, are six points clear of their nearest rival after ten games of the 2025-26 campaign.
‘I don’t like singling players out since it’s a team effort – and I even have to present Mikel Arteta credit for constructing that – but I even have to discover Declan Rice,’ Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast.
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‘He’s taken his game to the subsequent level now where you’re taking about probably the greatest in world football.
‘We saw at West Ham a excellent player and I remember some pundits criticised him a bit of bit by way of what he’s and what’s his best position but he’s every thing in that midfield.
‘He can do every thing and he’s consistently putting in these performances which mean we’ve got to begin talking about him as probably the greatest players I world football.
‘It’s so good to see and if Arsenal do win the Premier League this season it’s going to be because players like him. I said initially that it’s a team game but he’s just exceeding all expectations.’
Ex-England striker Gary Lineker agreed with Richards’ assessment of Rice, adding: ‘I believe that’s fair. People talked about his position but he’s got all of it, he’s all-encompassing.
‘The quantity of ground be covers and the way in which he advances forward with the ball and puts in those deliveries while being so smart defensively… he’s got all of it. He’s one in all those players who just continues to enhance.’
Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool – the three pre-season favourites for the title – now make up the top-three within the Premier League.
Man City beat the previously second-placed Bournemouth while Liverpool ended a four-game losing run with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa.
Lineker expected Liverpool to retain the Premier League trophy initially of the season but now admits it’s ‘hard to go against’ Arsenal.
‘I do know all of us tipped Liverpool initially of the season but it surely’s got to the stage now where it’s hard to go against Arsenal,’ he said.
‘It’s still early but it surely’s hard to really tip anyone ahead of them, but everyone knows what football is like and the way quickly things can change.’
Arsenal face Sunderland of their final Premier League game before the November international break while fellow title hopefuls Manchester City and Liverpool meet on the Etihad Stadium.
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