England’s legendary footballer Steven Gerrard has been raining praises on Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice for the past few days. In a recent appearance on the Rio Ferdinand Presents show, Gerrard bestowed the praise of “a really, really good midfielder” on Rice and was bountiful in admiration of how he had developed at Arsenal.
Gerrard never had any hesitation in expressing his opinions. He told him that he knows “an awful lot about him. I like the kid, I like his mentality, I like the way he’s gone to the next level at Arsenal. He’s adding different things to his game.” He also added that Rice would be a tough player and an opponent to face.
Why is Steven Gerrard praise significant? Declan Rice
Gerrard is not dishing out compliments for the sake of it. One of the greatest midfielders of his generation, and mythical for his voracity, leadership, and complete game. He does not bestow compliments on anyone reflexively.
There have been claims saying Gerrard thinks Rice is potentially the greatest Premier League midfielder presently. At least as far as an English perspective is concerned.
Rice’s emergence at Arsenal
Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham in 2023 for a record transfer. Early anticipation had been that he would not be able to command such a fee. Since his transfer, he has been a regular in Mikel Arteta’s side.
Under David Moyes at West Ham, he played further back. Under Arteta at Arsenal, he has been given more of a role to play in terms of attacking movement too. That has unlocked more of his game.
The numbers confirm it. In his inaugural seasons playing for Arsenal, Rice has registered decent goals and assists tallies. On his own in this season alone, he has already registered several goal contributions in the Premier League and Champions League.
Along with that, Arsenal boss—Mikel Arteta—also commented on Rice’s improved attacking abilities. In a Champions League match, Rice injected some attacking rhythm, with an ambition to get up the pitch and add to the third phase.
Arteta has thanked Rice elsewhere too. He took the game by the scruff of the neck with a set-play piece, to the coach’s instruction not to cross but shoot and score, as he waited for his moment.
Leadership and recent highlights
Rice is not just giving the technical contributions — his leadership too is under the spotlight. He has led England in games when Harry Kane was not available, and that suggests that national team managers have faith in him.
Vs. Real Madrid in Champions League quarter-finals, Rice produced a career performance: he took two direct free kicks during a 3–0 first-leg win. It was the historic first occasion that a player in Champions League knockout history had two free kicks in a tie. It was a moment to place his clutch value and big-stage presence into perspective.
Is Gerrard’s admiration justified?
With Rice’s development, Gerrard’s endorsement does not seem misplaced. Rice is already England’s most divisive midfielder. The fact that one of the all-time greats has such respect for him is yet another seal of approval.
But even the “best midfielder” label is comparative. There are others to battle it out against — Moisés Caicedo, Bruno Guimarães, Jude Bellingham, etc. — each bringing something different. Gerrard did put his imprimatur into context by passing it on from “an English perspective.”
Author’s Insight
Steven Gerrard’s public admiration of Declan Rice is the highlight of what has otherwise been a gripping story of maturity. Rice’s progression as an Arsenal player, his greater contribution in attack, and his captaincy are all reasons why he is a man that most of us have tremendous respect for. Gerrard’s view is no more evidence than what fans and pundits in general are increasingly making out: Rice is one of the Premier League’s top midfielders and has a couple of good years in him.
