Arsenal have enjoyed a memorable 2025, reaching the Champions League semi-finals before making a fast start this season in the Premier League, and one man has stood out
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta decided over the summer that a new deep-lying midfielder was required to get the best out of Declan Rice. The Gunners brought in Martin Zubimendi in a £55million deal, making the Spain international their first outfield addition of the summer in a clear statement of intent.
While Zubimendi has thrived in his own right, the freedom his arrival has given Rice is plain to see. Arsenal fans have voted for their team’s best player of the calendar year in a Mirror Football WhatsApp poll and England star Rice has been the runaway winner.
The £105m man was one of five players in the mix as fans looked at 2025 as a whole, not just the first half of the 2025/26 season. That means they were able to look back to his two stunning free-kicks in last season’s Champions League win against Real Madrid in addition to his efforts this term.
Rice was up against centre-backs Gabriel and William Saliba, goalkeeper David Raya and winger Bukayo Saka. It wasn’t even a close call, with the midfielder picking up more than three quarters of the votes.
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Saturday brought yet another dominant performance from Rice in a 1-0 victory over Everton. David Moyes, his former manager at West Ham, described him as “probably the best midfielder in the world” while Arteta also sung his praised.
“(Declan’s) unbelievable – his all-round play, his leadership on the pitch, the amount of balls that he regained that allowed us to run,” the Gunners boss said. “He has been incredibly consistent this year again. What a massive player for us he is.”
It’s not just Rice’s on-field play which has caught the eye. His leadership has also helped Arsenal thrive, even leading some to call for him to replace Martin Odegaard as the club’s permanent captain and – one day – Harry Kane as England skipper.
“I have to say Declan Rice is incredible, it was a pleasure to watch,” former Three Lions captain Wayne Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney show after the Everton game.
“He was by far the best player on the pitch. For me, he’s the future captain of England. He’s the one who’s probably waiting for Harry to hang up his boots at some point.
“He was all over the pitch. 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.
“He’s the right one to take over 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.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
