Arsenal are high of the Premier League desk, though it would not actually really feel like that.
On Saturday, the Gunners swatted apart West Ham 2-0 at house, with Declan Rice breaking the impasse in opposition to his former aspect, earlier than Bukayo Saka transformed a second-half penalty, because the Hammers hardly ever threatened, underlined by the very fact they did not muster a single shot on track.
Nonetheless, the environment at Emirates Stadium was typically reasonably flat, probably because of the reasonably boring recreation that was served as much as these in attendance, a win that by no means actually felt unsure, even at 0-0.
Extra importantly although, as soon as once more, Mikel Arteta suffered an harm to one more key participant; absentees derailed their title aspirations final season, with Gooners all over the place fearful that this may very well be the case once more.
So, if the captain is sidelined for any size of time, ought to a key determine labelled the “greatest on the planet” begin donning the armband?
The most recent on Martin Ødegaard’s harm
4 days is a really very long time in soccer, as Martin Ødegaard has found this week.
On Wednesday evening in opposition to Olympiacos, the Norwegian was at his elegant, glowing and scintillating greatest.
Supervisor Arteta described Ødegaard’s efficiency as “phenomenal”, whereas Dan Sheldon of the Athletic praised his ‘lovely incisive passing’, outlining how ‘taking part in barely deeper’, he was capable of management all facets of the sport and actually run the present.
Nonetheless, come Saturday, for a 3rd successive house Premier League recreation, the 26-year-old was compelled off within the first half, stricken by a shoulder subject in opposition to Leeds and Nottingham Forest, this time struggling a knee harm.
Arteta mentioned afterwards that the information is “not constructive” with Ødegaard leaving the stadium in a knee brace, solemnly concluding “let’s wait… hopefully it’s not that dangerous.”
So, if the skipper is compelled to sit down out video games in opposition to Fulham, Atlético Madrid, Crystal Palace and maybe past after the worldwide break, who ought to be donning the armband as a substitute?
Arsenal’s future captain is now the “greatest on the planet”
When Ødegaard has been sidelined each this season and final, the armband has reasonably been shared round, with Gabriel and Saka amongst these donning it in latest video games.
Nonetheless, after one more glorious show in opposition to his former membership on Saturday, Rice has actually come to the fore as a frontrunner on this Arsenal crew.
In soccer historical past, 11 gamers have moved for £100m or extra, of which only a few proved to be successful and, as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are discovering out at Anfield, a price ticket that massive can weigh even a world-class participant down.
Effectively, Rice has definitely bucked the pattern in that regard, unequivocally excellent each week, with the desk beneath documenting his significance to Arsenal to date this season.
Declan Rice 2025/26 statistics | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics | Rice | Arsenal rank |
Minutes | 676 | fifth |
Targets | 1 | seventh |
Assists | 2 | 1st |
Accomplished passes | 437 | third |
Key passes | 14 | 1st |
Passes into ultimate third | 33 | 2nd |
Progressive carries | 21 | 2nd |
Corners takes | 24 | 1st |
Shot-creating actions | 24 | 1st |
Blocks | 7 | third |
Ball recoveries | 36 | 1st |
Touches | 565 | third |
Statistics by way of FBref | ||
Because the numbers emphasise, Rice has grow to be the entire all-rounder.
He leads the best way when it comes to key passes and shot-creating actions, a big proportion of which will probably be courtesy of his skilled set-piece supply, in addition to ball recoveries, very a lot contributing throughout each space of the pitch.
Talking about Archie Grey in his press convention on Friday, Tottenham supervisor Thomas Frank, of all folks, asserted that Rodri and Rice are the “greatest on the planet” of their place, including that it is because “they will do some little bit of every part”.
It’s laborious to disagree with that evaluation, contemplating Rice is ready to put in a superb efficiency no matter the place he’s deployed, used on the base of midfield from the beginning on Saturday, earlier than shifting increased up following Martín Zubimendi’s introduction to exchange Ødegaard.
Throughout his ultimate season at West Ham, one which culminated in Convention League glory, Rice was the membership captain, donning the armband for England for the primary time in opposition to Belgium final 12 months too, underlining his management capabilities.
So, if Ødegaard goes to be sidelined for any time period, Rice seems the plain candidate to guide Arsenal out at Craven Cottage in a fortnight.
