Arteta claims 'more to come' from Rice ahead of Chelsea showdown

Mikel Arteta insists Declan Rice has not yet reached its ceiling because Arsenal prepare to face Chelsea on Sunday, where the midfielder is set to face Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo in one of the most anticipated midfield clashes of the season.

The three players have combined for over £300 million, each for sums in excess of £100 million, and have regularly featured among the best. The Premier League remarkable artists this campaign.

Rice recently confirmed that he selected Caicedo in his 2024-25 Team of the Year vote, keeping the ongoing comparison between the two alive.

Arteta, however, is confident that the England midfielder can further increase his influence, even after a consistent twelve months in the Arsenal squad.

Asked if this was Rice at his peak, Arteta replied: “Probably a year or two ago, yes, but now, being with him every day, understanding him and connecting with him the way I did, we're going to get more.

“Because he wants more, the team knows him better, his role is growing within the team. The impact he has on the team is huge.

“I’ve known him for a long time. [before signing] and I knew how he could evolve and change the team. He certainly did and probably exceeded those expectations.

Much of Rice's most influential work at West Ham came from a deeper defensive position, but Arteta took him further at Arsenal, helping to unlock a wider range of attributes.

Despite being unable to pinpoint a game that convinced him Rice was the right signing, Arteta revealed he has a clear idea of ​​where the 25-year-old could be used when Arsenal move for him.

“I would have to think about it but most of the time, if you have the opportunity to see a player live and feel him, to get that energy, that presence and that charisma, on top of his qualities, it's something else,” he said.

“Probably when he was there, I said, 'hmm, he's a special player.'

“To be honest, I had this one, I had another position that was a little bit further back to do other things and he can adapt to whatever you throw at him.

“At the moment that’s what we thought, ahead it’s probably a lot more positive for the team.”

Rice has taken on a greater leadership role at the club since arriving in north London, drawing on his experience as captain at West Ham and becoming an increasingly vocal figure within Arsenal's core team structure.

Arteta said: “A huge amount. Obviously he was captain at West Ham. He comes here to a new club, new environment and there were things already sorted out, but he has earned the right to increase that role.

“To be more important, to be very present in everything we do, he is part of the management 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.”