The Athletic FC Podcast - Episode Summary

Episode Title: Is Declan Rice the Premier League's best midfielder?
Date: December 4, 2025
Host: Ayo Akimolere
Guests: Arthur Rocher (Arsenal reporter), Carl Anchor (Football journalist)

Main Theme

This episode delves into the crucial role of Declan Rice at Arsenal and his broader standing as possibly the Premier League’s top midfielder. The panel also unpacks Arsenal’s squad depth, squad-building strategies, adaptation under Mikel Arteta, and the evolution of Declan Rice from a promising young player to one of England’s elite. The discussion also covers squad management, the increasing demands on top players, and where Rice ranks among both Arsenal signings and Premier League midfielders.

Episode Breakdown

1. Arsenal’s Unbeaten Run and Adaptability (02:00–07:30)

• Arsenal’s Form: The Gunners have gone 18 games unbeaten with 15 wins and 3 draws, a streak the panel credits to both quality signings and depth.
• Mikel Marino’s transformation: Originally not a striker but now excelling up front, Marino is praised for “attacking crosses like it’s 1998.”
  • “At what point do we stop calling Mikel Marino a makeshift striker and just start calling him a striker?” – Arthur Rocher [04:00]
• Squad Depth:
  • Ben White, Nonny Madueke, and Martin Odegaard’s performances highlighted as evidence that Arsenal have not only raised their ceiling, but also their floor.
  • “When you look at the squad…you’ve raised the floor at the same time.” – Carl Anchor [05:16]

Notable Moments

• Commentary on White’s resurgence and his chemistry with Saka and Madueke.
• Arsenal’s circular solution at center back with injuries to Gabriel, Saliba, and others, demonstrating their tactical future-proofing.

2. Injury Concerns and Squad Rotation (07:30–15:00)

• Defensive Riches & Center-Back Pairings:
  • Arteta intentionally built redundancy into Arsenal’s defense, with multiple players able to cover both full-back and center-back.
  • “I don’t think there’s many football teams in the Premier League that can lose their two starting center backs and keep on trucking the way Arsenal have.” – Arthur Rocher [07:01]
• Declan Rice Injury Assessment:
  • Subbed off late against Brentford with a minor calf issue; panel feels it’s likely precautionary given his prior quick recoveries.
  • Arteta remains notoriously secretive about injury news, frustrating FPL managers.

3. Declan Rice’s Indispensable Importance (12:44–15:25)

• Rice is one of five players to feature in all 14 Premier League games thus far.
• “He’s essential. Arsenal have one of the best starting elevens in the Premier League…Apart from Declan Rice, I think he’s the one where if he was injured and did miss six or seven games, that’s when you start going, oh, could it be someone else that sneaks in? Could he actually have a title race in there?” – Arthur Rocher [12:52]
• Rice commended for remarkable durability and intelligent risk avoidance in physical duels—contrasted with Jack Wilshere.

4. Player Workload and Burnout Concerns (15:12–18:00)

• Citing recent hamstring injuries (Havertz, Gabriel, Saka), panel agrees player burnout is a growing crisis in elite football.
  • “If you’ve got ten football fans in a room and went, what football game should we get rid of, it’s going to be chaos.” – Arthur Rocher [15:25]
• Arteta’s approach to building depth cited as ahead of the curve for big clubs.

5. Declan Rice’s Evolution and Expanded Role (21:17–29:36)

• Initial Perceptions:
  • Signed for £105 million in 2023, many saw Rice as a pure DM, but Arsenal have used him as a box-to-box, pressing, and set-piece threat.
  • “Even when he was at West Ham, I don’t think he was a defensive midfielder. He always was a box-to-box.” – Arthur Rocher [21:39]
• On-field Growth:
  • Impressive anticipation, expanded set-piece responsibilities (most assists from set pieces in the Premier League since joining), and leadership.
  • Reference to his in-game leadership:
    • “During the North London Derby…the cameras picked him up saying, ‘let’s kill them.’” – Arthur Rocher [24:44]
• Consistent Improvement:
  • Compared to a video game character, Rice keeps adding new attributes each season—a testament to his work ethic and adaptability.

6. Leadership Qualities (30:11–33:57)

• Rice’s impact compared to more understated captains like Odegaard:
  • “With Rice, it’s maybe just a lot more traditional in terms of what people would expect from a leader or a captain.” – Carl Anchor [30:37]
  • Praise for his ability to lift teammates and engage fans with dynamic, high-energy moments.
• Predicted future as England captain:
  • “Declan Rice is the captain of Arsenal. It is very, very clear to me that Declan Rice will be the England captain after Harry Kane.” – Arthur Rocher [31:54]

7. Rice’s Place Among Arteta’s Signings and as a Premier League Midfielder (37:02–43:22)

• Would Rice Have Developed the Same Under Other Coaches?
  • Hypotheticals explored: “If Frank Lampard got his wish, how would Frank Lampard have molded him? Would he have molded him to be like him?” – Carl Anchor [37:03]
• Top Arsenal Signings (per Carl Anchor):
  • Rice, Gabriel Jesus (credited with transforming Arsenal’s attack), Ramsdale, and key defenders like Ben White and Jurrien Timber.
• Rice vs. Other EPL Midfielders:
  • Compared to Rodri, Caicedo, Gravenberch, Bruno Guimarães, etc.
  • “He’s top five, maybe top three at this point in time. Arsenal need to win some trophies before we can have some serious conversations about him being top one or top two, but he’s on the way.” – Arthur Rocher [41:45]
  • Panel agrees consistency and more trophies are needed before Rice is considered the undisputed best.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He attacks crosses like it’s 1998. I’m loving it.” – Arthur Rocher on Mikel Marino [04:00]
• “When you look at the squad…you’ve raised the floor at the same time.” – Carl Anchor [05:16]
• “Declan Rice is the captain of Arsenal. It is very, very clear to me that Declan Rice will be the England captain after Harry Kane.” – Arthur Rocher [31:54]
• “He’s such an exception to the rule of progress as a football player. You’re not supposed to disappear for three months in the summer and then reappear and you've got a brand new move.” – Arthur Rocher [25:28]
• “He’s top five, maybe top three…Arsenal need to win some trophies before we can have some serious conversations about him being top one or top two, but he’s on the way.” – Arthur Rocher [41:45]

Key Timestamps

• Arsenal’s Unbeaten Run, Marino’s Form: 02:00–04:00
• Squad Depth Discussion: 05:00–07:30
• Defensive Rotation/Depth: 07:30–10:43
• Declan Rice Injury Chat: 10:43–12:52
• Rice’s Minute-Accumulation and Injury Avoidance: 12:52–15:12
• Player Burnout and Depth Building: 15:12–18:00
• Declan Rice Evolution: 21:17–29:36
• Leadership and Captaincy: 30:11–33:57
• Comparison with Other Arteta Signings: 37:02–41:29
• Rice Among Premier League Midfielders: 41:29–43:22

Conclusion

This episode offers deep insight into Arsenal’s progression, driven by strategic squad-building and the evolution of Declan Rice into one of the Premiership’s most important—and versatile—midfielders. Rice is lauded for his leadership, tactical intelligence, physical and mental durability, plus his ability to grow key facets of his game each season. While the panel considers him in the league’s top three midfielders, they stop short of naming him the outright best, stating that sustained excellence and trophies will ultimately determine his legacy.

For listeners seeking a nuanced view on both team-building and how individual talent like Declan Rice can elevate a club, this episode is an essential listen.