Arsenal legend, Paul Merson has named midfielder, Declan Rice as the club’s most important player under their manager Mikel Arteta.
According to Merson, Arsenal cannot afford to lose the England international amid their Premier League title race this season.
He noted that Rice keeps getting better and better every day, adding that the 26-year-old was outstanding against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League in mid-week.
“For how big the squad is and how good it is, they cannot afford to lose Declan Rice. The man gets better and better and better,” Merson told Sky Sports as quoted by Metro UK.
“He was absolutely outstanding and he ran Bayern into the ground.
“He is Arsenal’s most important player – one million per cent. But Martin Zubimendi deserves a mention, too. He was phenomenal.”
Rice joined Arsenal from Premier League side West Ham United in 2023 and he has been impressive for the Gunners so far.