Micah Richards believes Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has ‘taken his game to the next level’ and is now ‘one of the best 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 and then scoring himself.
The England star has made a huge impact at Arsenal since his £105m move from West Ham in 2023 and Richards insists he is integral to Arsenal’s title hopes.
Mikel Arteta’s side, runners-up in 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 because it’s a team effort – and I have to give Mikel Arteta credit for building that – but I have to identify Declan Rice,’ Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast.
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‘He’s taken his game to the next level now where you’re taking about one of the best in world football.
‘We saw at West Ham a very good player and I remember some pundits criticised him a little bit in terms of what he is and what’s his best position but he’s everything in that midfield.
‘He can do everything and he’s consistently putting in these performances which mean we have to start talking about him as one of the best players I world football.
‘It is so good to see and if Arsenal do win the Premier League this season it will be because players like him. I said at the start 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 think that’s fair. People talked about his position but he’s got it all, he’s all-encompassing.
‘The amount of ground be covers and the way he advances forward with the ball and puts in those deliveries while being so smart defensively… he’s got it all. He’s one of those players who just continues to improve.’
Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool – the three pre-season favourites for the title – now make up the top-three in 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 at the start of the season but now admits it is ‘hard to go against’ Arsenal.
‘I know we all tipped Liverpool at the start of the season but it’s got to the stage now where it’s hard to go against Arsenal,’ he said.
‘It’s still early but it’s hard to actually tip anyone ahead of them, but we all know what football is like and how quickly things can change.’
Arsenal face Sunderland in their final Premier League game before the November international break while fellow title hopefuls Manchester City and Liverpool meet at the Etihad Stadium.
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