Quantcast
Home   >   News   >   Arsenal’s Rice labelled as better than Rodri & Gravenberch

Arsenal’s Rice labelled as better than Rodri & Gravenberch

By on November 7, 2025

Declan Rice Bukayo Saka Arsenal

Former midfielder Jody Morris has said that Arsenal star Declan Rice has been a better midfielder than Rodrigo Hernandez and Ryan Gravenberch this season.

When the Gunners decided to purchase the Englishman by breaking the club’s transfer record, question marks were raised over whether he was really worth that sum. However, he has turned out to be one of Arsenal’s best acquisitions in recent years..

The 26-year-old played as a defensive midfielder at West Ham and also featured in a similar role in the England national team under Gareth Southgate.

However, Mikel Arteta has transformed him into a box-to-box midfielder, which has brought out the best in him. He made more than 15 goal contributions in the last two consecutive seasons; moreover, he helped Arsenal beat Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final last term by scoring two excellent goals from set-pieces.

This season, he has continued to showcase his productivity, scoring twice and notching up four clean sheets in 16 appearances across all competitions.

Now, during a recent interview (via Metro), Morris says that Rice is a top-class holding midfielder, but his best position is the No.8. He is a ‘world-class’ player and has been performing better than Rodri and Gravenberch this season.

Rice receives plaudits

Morris said:

“Rice can play as a No.6 at a really top-class level but I think you’re taking a little bit away from what he can offer when you get him to stay there. At the end of last season, and this season, he plays more as a No.8. But I think he’s right up there.

“I think Rice is a world-class player, I think Caicedo is a world-class player. Gravenberch, his levels last year, you have to say he had to be in the Team of the Year. I think those three midfielders were the best performers [last season]. I don’t think Gravenverch has hit the same levels this year, the same as Rodri.”

Rice helped Arsenal finish second in the last two consecutive Premier League campaigns and even guided his team to reach the semi-final of the Champions League last campaign before losing to eventual champions PSG.

This season, the Englishman will be hoping to win the Premier League or the Champions League. Arsenal have enjoyed a stellar start, sitting at the top of the league with a six-point lead.

Moreover, they have won the first four games in Europe’s elite club competition. So, they are on course to finally end their trophy drought this season.