10/19/2026
🔴⚪ DECLAN RICE — EVEN WHEN HE ISN’T AT HIS BEST, HIS INFLUENCE IS EVERYWHERE. 🔋
Declan Rice deserves far more attention for the level of consistency he is producing in this Arsenal midfield.
Another game, another performance where his influence could be felt all over the pitch. He controlled the tempo, helped Arsenal progress possession, covered enormous distances defensively and continued to make himself available whenever his team needed an outlet.
📊 DECLAN RICE:
🎨 3 chances created — most in the match
🔥 1 big chance created
👟 113 touches — most in the match
🎯 94% passing accuracy
🚀 19 passes into the final third
🔄 6 ball recoveries
The numbers underline just how involved Rice was. With 113 touches, virtually everything Arsenal tried to build through midfield seemed to pass through him at some stage. He constantly offered himself for the ball, moved possession forward and still had the energy to cover ground when Arsenal lost it.
But perhaps the most remarkable thing is that, by Declan Rice’s own standards, this was not even a flawless performance.
He lost more duels than we have become accustomed to seeing from him, and he also passed up a very good opportunity created by the Saka–Ødegaard–Timber combination down the right. There were moments where he could have been sharper, and this was not necessarily one of those nights where everything he attempted came off perfectly.
Yet that almost tells you more about his level than a perfect performance would.
Even when Rice is not dominating every individual battle, he still gives Arsenal an extraordinary amount. He keeps running, keeps demanding possession, keeps helping the team progress up the pitch and continues to contribute creatively.
That is what separates the very best midfielders. Their influence does not disappear simply because they are having an imperfect game.
Rice can dictate possession, break lines, protect the defence, arrive around the opposition box and create chances — all while covering huge areas of the pitch for 90 minutes.
At this point, watching Declan Rice run from one end of the pitch to the other almost feels completely normal. 😂🔋
And perhaps that is the biggest compliment of all: the extraordinary has become expected.
🔴⚪ Not Rice at his absolute best — and yet still one of the most influential players on the pitch. That is the standard he has set. ❤️