Mikel Arteta insists Declan Rice has not yet reached his ceiling as Arsenal prepare to face Chelsea on Sunday, where the midfielder is expected to go head-to-head with Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in one of the most anticipated midfield match-ups of the season.
The three players commanded fees beyond £300 million combined, each arriving for sums above £100m, and have regularly featured among the Premier League’s standout performers this campaign.
Rice recently confirmed he selected Caicedo in his vote for the 2024-25 Team of the Year, keeping the ongoing comparison between the two alive.
Arteta, however, is convinced the England midfielder can raise his influence even more, even after a consistent twelve months at the heart of Arsenal’s side.
Asked whether this is Rice at his peak level, Arteta replied: “Probably a year or two ago, yes, but now being with him every single day, understanding and connecting with him in the way I have done, we are going to get more.
“Because he wants more, the team knows him better, his role is growing around the team. The impact he has on the team, it’s huge.
“I knew him for a long time [before signing] and I knew how he could evolve and change the team. He has certainly done it and probably improved on those expectations.”
Much of Rice’s most influential work at West Ham came from a deeper defensive slot, but Arteta has pushed him further forward at Arsenal, helping unlock a wider range of attributes.
While unable to pinpoint one match that convinced him Rice was the right signing, Arteta revealed he had a clear idea where the 25-year-old could be used when Arsenal moved for him.
“I would have to think about it but most of the time, if you have the option to see a player live and sense him, get that energy, presence and charisma, on top of his qualities, it’s something else,” he said.
“Probably when he was around I said, ‘hmm, that’s a special player.’
“To be fair I had this one, I had another position that was a little bit further back to do something else and he can adapt to anything you throw at him.
“At the moment, that is what we were thinking, in front is probably much more positive for the team.”
Rice has taken on a larger leadership role at the club since his arrival in North London, building on his experience as captain at West Ham and becoming an increasingly vocal figure within Arsenal’s core squad structure.
Arteta said: “A huge amount. Obviously he was captain at West Ham. He comes here to a new club, a new environment and there were things already set, but he has earned the right to increase that role.
“To be more important, to be very present in everything we do, he’s in the leadership group, which is very important.
“He’s a real presence. He doesn’t need to wear the armband to feel really connected, really powerful and really important in the team.”