‘Tough, strong’ – Steven Gerrard names Arsenal star as one of midfielders he respects

Steven Gerrard said he is a big fan of Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice, whom he believes would have been a “good challenge” for his younger self.

At this point, Rice is already one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. There is no doubt about that.

However, it would still feel good, even for Rice, to get a seal of approval from a legend of the game.

This time, the praises came from Gerrard, who had a lot to say about the Arsenal midfielder.

“In the Premier League? I think Declan Rice is a really good midfielder,” the Liverpool legend told Rio Ferdinand Presents on YouTube when asked to name current players he respects.

“I like an awful lot about him.

“I like the kid. I like the mentality. I like the way he’s gone to the next level at Arsenal.

“He’s adding different things to his game.

“I think he’d be a tough, strong opponent — a good challenge.”

As Gerrard pointed out, Rice has stepped up his game significantly since joining Arsenal in 2023.

At West Ham, he was one of the best number sixes in the league, but at Arsenal, he is close to being a complete midfielder.

He has increased his output, both goals and assists, and is arguably one of the best set-piece takers in the league, a key part of Arsenal’s playbook.

It is no surprise, too, that his improvement translates into the national team as well, with him being one of the first names on the team sheet under Thomas Tuchel.

To put it into perspective, the midfielder has featured in all 10 of Arsenal’s games and both of England’s fixtures since this season started in August.