Declan Rice didn’t come out of nowhere.
For a long time now, he’s been working up the ranks of the football system, honing his skills and steadily proving himself at West Ham before making the high-profile move to Arsenal.
In 2025, he’s not just a top Arsenal and England player; he’s arguably one of the top players in the world. Whether you’re looking at the odds for the Premier League or Champions League betting, Rice is always among the favourites to make an impact, even when those favourites include players like Fabian Ruiz and Bruno Guimaraes.
In fact, his recent performances for the Gunners have led former Gunner captain Patrick Viera to describe him as a ‘complete midfielder’, implying that there’s not really a lot more he can do to improve his game – it’s as good as it can get.
So how did we get here, and what is it about the evolution of Declan Rice that has made him such a pivotal figure in modern football?
The evolution of Declan Rice
Rice’s superstar potential wasn’t immediately obvious to coaches at West Ham. His lack of true match-winning capacity didn’t blossom until much later, but they knew he could be a potential starter for the team. He showed maturity beyond his years, with an unwavering work ethic that set him apart from his peers.
As we mentioned previously, his rise didn’t then happen overnight – it was this same work ethic that led him to put in strong performances game after game, with a mature determination to improve in each match.
And improve he did. He became a mainstay in West Ham’s midfield, steadily earning praise for his defensive reliability, passing range, and leadership qualities. These performances didn’t go unnoticed, either, and in 2023, Arsenal secured Rice’s signature in one of the most high-profile transfers that year.
In the international scene, Rice was also getting noticed, and – having represented England at various youth levels – he made his senior debut in 2019, quickly becoming a lynchpin in Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Arsenal and England’s most complete midfielder
Again, it wasn’t any flashy skills or physicality that got him in the England squad. What Southgate’s team needed at the time was stability and intelligence, and that’s exactly what Rice provided, giving them the ability to break up opposition attacks and maintain possession during crucial times of the game.
It’s the same thing he’s been so good at for Arsenal, which is part of the reason he’s been named player of the week on so many occasions. Traditionally, this has been a squad that prioritises attacking flair and creativity, but that has often got them into trouble when it comes to their defensive abilities.
Rice works to counter that, providing a shield in front of the backline while also acting as a deep-lying playmaker when in possession. His positional awareness allows him to intercept passes and cut out danger before it develops, while his passing range enables him to transition the team quickly from defence to attack – a dual capability that makes him indispensable when up against the top club sides in the Premier and Champions League.
It’s these capabilities – honed by those years of maturity and disciplined training – that make him a complete midfielder, and so long as he stays fit and maintains his focus, it’s likely he’ll continue to prove that claim.