Declan Rice has transformed his game this season, becoming the central figure in Arsenal's buildup and leading the Premier League in progressive passes with 124, a per-90 rate of 14.6 that surpasses all other midfielders. The 27-year-old, nicknamed "The Horse" by teammates for his relentless engine, now averages 87.5 touches per 90 minutes — 13% more than captain Martin Ødegaard — and has added five open-play assists, including a backheel for Bruno Guimarães against Leeds and a crossing assist for Kai Havertz at Liverpool.
Role Shift and Statistical Leap
After three seasons hovering around 8.5 progressive passes per 90, Rice's surge coincides with a positional shift to the right side of midfield, facilitated by the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly. His expected assists have risen to 0.24 per 90, comparable to Ødegaard, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Enzo Fernández, despite fewer touches in the attacking third. Manager Mikel Arteta praised Rice's "desperation to improve every part of his game" and highlighted his versatility: "He can drop back, he can progress play... He can produce passes by arriving, by playing far, by crossing the ball left or right."
Comparisons to Rodri's Ballon d'Or-winning season show Rice trailing in defensive duels and progressive passing volume (Rodri averaged 10% more per 90), but projecting Rice's current expected goals and assists over a full campaign yields three goals and 11 assists. Arteta insists Rice's workload is carefully managed after 4,456 club minutes last season and a full World Cup, dismissing concerns over his recent 90-minute appearances against Liverpool and Slavia Prague. While Erling Haaland remains the benchmark for best player in the league, Rice's trajectory suggests he could contend for the title of best midfielder in the world alongside Pedri and Paris Saint-Germain's trio.
