Arsenal are currently on a mission to end their 22-year-long Premier League title drought in the ongoing 2025-26 season. And Arsenal legend Robert Pires has asserted that one of the current Gunners stars is as great as Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira.
So, who is the mystery player and what does Pires think about the Gunners’ title push?
Arsenal Ace Singled Out for Special Praise
During a recent interview with Sky Sports, Pires suggested that star midfielder Declan Rice has elevated himself to a level of superiority, akin to that of Arsenal legends like Henry and Vieira.
“If you want to lift the trophy at the end of the season you need a player like Declan Rice. You need a Patrick Vieira, a Thierry Henry, a Tony Adams… and Declan Rice is in the same circle, yes,” the former France international said.
When asked to share his honest thoughts on the north London outfit’s current league title charge, the two-time Premier League winner replied, “I’m always positive. I always have a good mood and a good energy when I come back to Arsenal.”
Rice, who joined the Gunners from West Ham United in a potential $140 million transfer in 2023, has arguably been his side’s best performer this season. The 26-year-old has netted four goals and laid out five assists in 20 league matches, according to Transfermarkt.
The former Chelsea youth player has often dominated Premier League matches for Arsenal this season, operating in a number eight role. His accurate set-pieces have also contributed to the Mikel Arteta-coached outfit’s recent goalscoring success on the soccer pitch.
Pires is not the only former Premier League great who has recently waxed lyrical about the England star. Ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane labelled the midfielder as one of the best players in the world ahead of the Gunners’ recent 0-0 draw against Liverpool.
Keane told Sky Sports, “He obviously did a brilliant job for West Ham and now at Arsenal, he’s surrounded by better players. His role has changed a bit, he’s getting forward a lot more. We always thought he had goals in him because his technique is that good and he’s a smart player.”
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“Is he one of the top players in the world now? I do think he is, given what he’s doing at Arsenal and of course, with England as well. A lot of plaudits to Declan, I think he’s a top player and makes the players around him better as well,” Keane concluded.
Overall, Rice has registered 20 goals and 27 assists in 131 total matches for the Gunners.
