As is the case with clubs of similar size, Arsenal have had some truly special players represent them during their Premier League era.
The likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires terrorized defenders, while Sol Campbell and Tony Adams also terrorized opposition attackers.
The Gunners have also been blessed with some great midfielders over the past 25 years or so, including the legendary Patrick Vieira.
No player has matched the Frenchman since then, but there is one player in Mikel Arteta’s side who is starting to emulate him.
Arsenal’s best midfielder in the Premier League
Arsenal’s list of the best midfielders in the Premier League can be long, so this top three only includes central midfielders and defensive midfielders.
Furthermore, the player must not be at the club, as Arteta’s side have not yet won any important victories at the moment.
That aside, coming in at number three has to be the phenomenal Gilberto Silva.
The Brazilian monster joined the club in the summer of 2002 and over the next five years made 244 appearances, scoring 24 goals and providing 14 assists.
Veja newspaper once described him as the man who “carried the piano so that Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo could play their songs”., The often underrated giant played a similar role in North London, leaving with one league title, two FA Cups and two Community Shields.
Cesc Fabregas replaced Gilberto in second place. Although he was used to playing high up the pitch, he spent most of his time in North London playing centrally.
The Spaniard may have left the club due to poor fitness, but he still managed an incredible 57 goals and 95 assists in 303 games, winning one FA Cup and one Community Shield.
In the end, first place had to be Captain Fantastic himself, Vieira.
The France international arrived from AC Milan in the summer of 1996 and helped transform the Gunners’ midfield, leaving him as a true legend.
As well as captaining the team during the Invincible season, the monster midfielder made 405 appearances, scoring 32 goals and providing 47 assists, winning three league titles, five FA Cups and three Community Seals before ultimately leaving the club.
Arsenal star joins Arteta’s Vieira
They need to win something important first, but this Arsenal team has some star players who could easily become legends in the coming years.
But one player who can and will become Arteta’s own Vieira is Declan Rice.
The Gunners’ £105m signing has been a bright addition for them since their big-money signing in the summer of 2023, but he has stepped it up even more over the last year and especially this season and is now starting to emulate some of the Frenchman’s best qualities.
For example, he’s no longer an out-and-out six-man, but he’s still a defensive and physical strength, someone who’s willing to throw his weight in to disrupt opposing offenses.
For example, in terms of aerial duels won per 90 minutes, Khubrev still ranks in the top 16% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.
Furthermore, although he does not have the club’s armband, he is still one of the most vocal players on the pitch and one of five players in the manager’s leadership group. ”
Finally, in addition to possessing the Gunners legend’s attitude and physical attributes, the former West Ham star also rivals him in terms of football ability.
Rice’s Arsenal record | |
|---|---|
Appearance | 118 |
begins | 107 |
minutes | 9442′ |
the goal | 18 |
assist | twenty four |
Number of goals involved per match | 0.35 |
Hours per goal involvement | 224.80′ |
All stats via Transfermarkt | |
The Englishman is one of the “best in the world”, according to Thomas Frank, whether in dead-ball situations or in play, with the ability to drive the ball exactly where he wants it, and has become much more of a goal threat in recent seasons.
Both of these traits were on full display against Burnley at the weekend and will no doubt be on display again in the next match.
After all, it’s clear that Rice is becoming Arteta’s own Vieira, although the comparison isn’t appropriate until he wins a title with Arsenal.
