Arsenal's “signing of the summer” has turned Rice into the best in the PL

Eyebrows were raised by many across the Premier League in the summer of 2023, after Arsenal forked out an English record £105m for the signature of midfielder Declan Rice.

The 26-year-old now appears to be somewhat of a bargain two years on, with the Englishman now cementing himself as one of the world's best in his position.

He's already racked up 118 appearances for Mikel Arteta's side, scoring 18 times and registering 22 assists – often being the provider for the Gunners' remarkable set pieces.

Rice netted his latest goal for the club in Saturday's win over Burnley at Turf Moor, once again playing an influential role in their ambition of claiming title glory in 2025/26.

His efforts have no doubt been bolstered by the addition of one player who's made an immediate impact during the opening months of his time at the Emirates.

The impact of Viktor Gyokeres on Declan Rice

While Arsenal have made huge strides over the last few years under Arteta's reign, they have often fallen at the final hurdle in their pursuit of Premier League glory.

Three second-place finishes in a row were enough for the board to back the Spaniard in the transfer window, splashing a fee in the region of £65m on the signature of Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swede arrived with huge expectations after netting 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting CP – with the center forward already making an immediate impact in North London.

He's netted four times in the Premier League to date, joining Rice on the scoresheet on Saturday afternoon and securing an eighth win of the league season.

The majority of his efforts have all been within the opposition's six-yard box, showing the poacher instincts he possesses – something which the Gunners have greatly lacked. What that means is that it's given the former West Ham man another player to aim for in the box from set-plays.

That was in evidence on Saturday when Rice's inswinging delivery found Gabriel at the back post who then laid it on a plate for the Swedish striker. The same recipe was served up a matter of weeks ago too in the 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid.

It's still early days for Gyokeres, but the signs are all positive for the talisman, potentially playing a role alongside Rice and another star if the club are to end their wait for a league title.

The impact of Martin Zubimendi on Rice

Upon his move to Arsenal, many questioned which role Rice would fill at the Emirates – the number six in front of the backline, or the number eight as a box-to-box option.

It's transpired in recent months that the Englishman is best suited as a box-to-box option, often able to produce a moment of magic from range or make darting runs into the box.

Such a role has no doubt allowed the 26-year-old to achieve his impressive goalscoring tally, with Arteta getting it spot on by not utilizing him in a deeper role.

However, it did leave a huge hole at the base of the three-man midfield, a role that has been excellently filled by Martin Zubimendi over the first few months of 2025/26.

In a saga that felt never-ending, the Gunners clinched the Spaniard's signature from Real Sociedad during the summer, subsequently paying £55m for his services.

Like Rice, he already looks like a phenomenal addition, with the 26-year-old nailing down his place as a deep-lying option – which has allowed his teammate to reach unthinkable heights.

In the Premier League this season, he's completed 89% of the passes he's attempted, whilst registering an average of 59 passes per 90 – ranking him in the top 7% of all players in the league.

Out of possession, he's been just as impressive, winning 1.9 tackles per 90 and coming out on top in 62% of the aerials he's entered – subsequently offering the ball-winning presence the side has lacked.

Other tallies, such as 1.2 interceptions per 90 and a 50% dribble success rate, have seen one analyst label the midfielder as Arsenal's “signing of the summer”.

His responsibility at the heart of the side has allowed Rice to operate in more threatening areas and achieve his impressive goal contributions – which has certainly bolstered his standing in the Premier League.

The pair have formed an excellent partnership, with the duo likely to have a huge bearing on the club's potential title glory come the end of the season in May.

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