As is the case with each membership of their measurement, Arsenal have had some actually particular gamers signify them within the Premier League period.
The likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pirès terrified defenders, whereas Sol Campbell and Tony Adams did the identical to opposition attackers.
The Gunners have additionally been blessed with some unbelievable midfielders during the last 25 years or so, such because the legendary Patrick Vieira.
No one has fairly been in a position to stay as much as the Frenchman since, however there’s one participant in Mikel Arteta’s aspect who’s beginning to emulate him.
Arsenal’s greatest midfielders within the Premier League
Because the record of Arsenal’s greatest Premier League midfielders may very well be an extended one, this prime three consists of solely central and defensive midfielders.
Moreover, the gamers should not be on the membership, as at the moment, Arteta’s aspect are but to win something vital.
With that out of the best way, coming in at quantity three must be the unbelievable Gilberto Silva.
The Brazilian monster joined the membership in the summertime of 2002 and went on to make 244 appearances over the subsequent 5 years, scoring 24 objectives and offering 14 assists.
As soon as described as the person who “carried the piano for Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo to play their tunes on” by the outlet Veja, the customarily underappreciated titan carried out an identical position in North London that noticed him go away with one league title, two FA Cups and two Neighborhood Shields.
Simply pipping Gilberto into second place is Cesc Fàbregas, as whereas he was no stranger to enjoying larger up the pitch, he spent most of his time in North London enjoying centrally.
The Spaniard might have left on poor phrases, however he did so with an unbelievable file of 57 objectives and 95 assists in 303 video games, during which he gained one FA Cup and one Neighborhood Defend.
Lastly, first place merely needed to be for Captain Incredible himself, Vieira.
Arriving from AC Milan in the summertime of 1996, the French worldwide would go on to assist rework the Gunners’ midfield and go away as a bona fide legend.
Along with captaining the aspect in the course of the Invincible season, the monstrous midfielder finally left the membership after making 405 appearances, throughout which he scored 32 objectives, offered 47 assists, gained three league titles, 5 FA Cups, and three Neighborhood Shields.
The Arsenal star changing into Arteta’s Vieira
Whereas they should win one thing vital first, there are a number of stars on this Arsenal crew who might simply turn into legends in their very own proper over the approaching years.
Nevertheless, with regards to the participant who might, and appears like they’ll turn into Arteta’s personal Vieira, it must be Declan Rice.
The Gunners’ £105m has been a superb participant for them since his mega cash transfer in the summertime of 2023, however during the last 12 months, and particularly this season, he has actually stepped it up and is now beginning to emulate a number of the Frenchman’s greatest qualities.
For instance, whereas he’s not an out-and-out six, he stays a defensive and bodily powerhouse and somebody who’s very happy to throw his weight round to disrupt opposition assaults.
For instance, Fbref nonetheless ranks him within the prime 16% of midfielders throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues for the proportion of aerial duels gained per 90 minutes.
Furthermore, whereas he doesn’t have the armband for the membership, he’s nonetheless one of the vocal gamers on the pitch and is among the 5 gamers within the supervisor’s management group.’
Lastly, along with possessing the angle and bodily traits of the Gunners legend, the previous West Ham star can also be comparable when it comes to footballing potential.
Rice’s Arsenal file | |
|---|---|
Appearances | 118 |
Begins | 107 |
Minutes | 9442′ |
Objectives | 18 |
Assists | 24 |
Aim Involvements per Match | 0.35 |
Minutes per Aim Involvement | 224.80′ |
All Stats by way of Transfermarkt | |
Whether or not it is a dead-ball state of affairs or throughout play, the Englishman is considered one of “one of the best on the earth,” per Thomas Frank, and has the power to ping the ball precisely the place he desires it, and during the last couple of campaigns has turn into much more of a aim risk.
Each of those traits have been on full show in opposition to Burnley on the weekend and can undoubtedly be once more for the subsequent recreation.
Finally, whereas the comparability will not be actually applicable till he lifts a title with Arsenal, it’s clear that Rice is changing into Arteta’s personal Vieira.
