Former Arsenal star snubs Declan Rice as he names world’s best midfielder | Football

Former Arsenal and Chelsea defender believes Declan Rice is one of the world’s best midfielders, but is looking to Paris Saint-Germain for the number one in that position.

Rice’s reputation continues to grow as he turns in good performances on a consistent basis for the Gunners and England.

Wayne Rooney this week described Rice as ‘irreplaceable’ for England and a future Three Lions captain.

It is glowing praise and Gallas has been impressed by the 26-year-old, but the Frenchman believes the best midfielder in the planet is Vitinha at PSG.

‘Maybe he’s one of the best midfielders, but not the best because I think the best midfielder at the moment is Vitinha,’ Gallas told OLBG on Rice.

‘I think Declan Rice, what he did with West Ham in the past was really good. But now, you know, with Arsenal, he went to another level.

‘You can see that in every game he plays, he takes that pressure on his shoulder and he looks like he’s the boss of that midfield line. And every ball he has, he will do what he has to do perfectly.

‘So he can score goals, can defend, he can run and he’s more consistent. That is the most important. So that’s why I think, in the future he can be one of the best midfielders or maybe the best midfielder in the world.’

25-year-old Vitinha has been with PSG since 2022 and played a big part in their treble success last season, playing 59 times and scoring eight goals.

‘Everyone seems to love him’

Rooney was full of praise for Rice after Arsenal’s win over Everton at the weekend, saying on The Wayne Rooney Show: ‘He was all over the pitch [against Everton]. His decision-making – when to pass it, where to pass it, what foot to pass it to, his detail on his pass – it was a pleasure to watch. He was absolutely incredible.

‘He was splitting centre-backs, taking the ball off [Arsenal’s] centre-backs, acting as a third centre-back, then next minute he’s in the box, trying to score a goal. Sometimes, some of the stuff he does is a bit underrated.

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‘He’s the right one to take over [from Kane] for me, because [of] his drive, his personality. Everyone seems to love him, who knows him, who’s close to him. He’s irreplaceable for England.’

With Rice making things tick in the middle of the park, Arsenal are favourites to win the Premier League this season.

‘They have to be careful’

Gallas feels fans should be rightly concerned after three second-place finishes on the spin, but is backing the Gunners to get the job done this time.

‘For Arsenal, I think it’s always the same problem, always the same question,’ he said. ‘If Arsenal can keep that spot until the end of the season. I completely understand what the fans are feeling right now. I mean, they started very well, they were unbelievable.

‘The squad is very strong in every position. When you see the players, they like to play together, but we know the Premier League is very long, especially with all the other competitions they have to play.

‘They play every three days. They have got some injured players, important players who are injured at the moment. So we will see what is going to happen around January, February, because we know that at those moments, Arsenal sometimes can drop some points so they have to be careful.

‘Even if we look at the teams who are behind them, like for example Manchester City, they look good but that doesn’t look so strong, offensively they are really strong but defensively, they can concede a lot of goals.

‘That’s why for me Arsenal, I think they have a good opportunity to win the Premier League, but they have to be careful.’

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