🚨🏟️BREAKING NEWS ‼️: “I think Moises Caicedo is a great midfielder but this particular Arsenal midfielder is ahead of him…Even better than me”: Man City midfielder Rodri chooses Arsenal’s midfielder as the best in Premier League. FOR ME I THINK HE’S RIGHT ✅️ FULL STORY LINK 👇👇

Manchester/London – In a stunning revelation that’s sent shockwaves through the Premier League, Manchester City’s Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Rodri has publicly anointed Arsenal’s Declan Rice as the league’s top midfielder—placing him ahead of Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo and, in a moment of rare humility, even ahead of himself. The Spanish star’s comments, made during a candid interview on the Cityzens’ official podcast ahead of their Champions League clash with Inter Milan, have ignited fierce debate among fans, pundits, and rivals alike. “I think Moisés Caicedo is a great midfielder, but this particular Arsenal midfielder is ahead of him… even better than me,” Rodri said, before adding with a grin, “Declan’s got that complete package—defending like a lion, creating like an artist. He’s the benchmark right now.”

The endorsement couldn’t come at a more pivotal time. With the 2025/26 Premier League season in full swing, the midfield battle is fiercer than ever. Rodri, the 29-year-old linchpin who orchestrated City’s fourth consecutive title last term before a devastating ACL injury sidelined him for months, has only just returned to training. His absence exposed vulnerabilities in City’s engine room, allowing rivals like Arsenal to surge ahead. The Gunners, under Mikel Arteta, sit atop the table with 22 points from nine games, unbeaten and scoring for fun. At the heart of their dominance? Declan Rice, the £105 million summer 2023 signing from West Ham, who’s evolved into a midfield maestro.

Rice’s stats speak volumes. In 2025 alone, the 26-year-old Englishman has notched three goals and five assists in the league, while leading the Premier League in interceptions (28) and progressive passes (142). His versatility—shielding the backline one minute, bombing forward to unleash Bukayo Saka the next—has been Arsenal’s secret weapon. “Declan’s not just a player; he’s the pulse of this team,” Arteta beamed post-match after Rice’s man-of-the-match display in a 3-1 dismantling of Tottenham last weekend, where he completed 95% of his passes and won 12 duels. Fans on social media erupted: “Rodri rating Rice over himself? That’s the ultimate seal of approval! #COYG,” tweeted one Arsenal supporter, while City fans countered with memes of Rodri’s iconic goal against United.

Rodri’s praise for Rice over Caicedo adds fuel to an already blazing rivalry. The Ecuadorian, Chelsea’s £115 million record buy from Brighton in 2023, has been a revelation this season under Enzo Maresca. With 38 recoveries and a league-high 18 interceptions in nine starts, Caicedo’s tenacious tackling and ball-winning prowess have transformed the Blues’ midfield. Pundits like Gary Neville have hailed him as “the best right now,” citing his thunderbolt strike in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Liverpool as proof. Yet Rodri, ever the tactician, sees flaws: “Caicedo’s energy is unmatched, but Rice has that composure in big moments—titles with West Ham, now pushing Arsenal for the crown.”

This isn’t the first time Rodri has tipped his hat to a rival. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, known for his metronomic passing (93% accuracy) and defensive nous, has long admired Rice’s trajectory. “He’s ahead of where I was at his age,” Rodri continued, reflecting on his own breakout at Atlético Madrid. “Even better than me in some ways—faster, more dynamic. If Arsenal win it all this year, it’s because of him.” The Spaniard’s injury woes—missing 14 games after a September horror tackle—have given Rice space to shine, but with Rodri nearing full fitness, the duo could soon clash in a title-deciding derby.

The football world is divided. Jamie Carragher, on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, backed Rice as “just pipping Caicedo,” praising his set-piece threat and leadership. Danny Murphy, however, insists a fully fit Rodri remains “levels ahead” of both. Neville sticks to his Caicedo guns, calling him “the engine Chelsea needed.” Even Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch, another contender, quipped on Instagram: “Flattered, but Rice? Nah, that’s me next season.”

For me, I think he’s right ✅. Rodri’s not one for hyperbole—he’s the guy who quietly dismantled Arsenal in last season’s 2-2 draw with a 97th-minute equalizer. If he’s crowning Rice, it’s gospel. Arsenal’s midfielder embodies the Premier League’s evolution: raw power meets silky skill, all in service of silverware. As City chase a fifth straight title and Arsenal eye their first since 2004, this Rodri-Rice nod feels like destiny. Will it propel Rice to Ballon d’Or contention? Or motivate Caicedo to prove the doubters wrong? One thing’s certain: the midfield wars just got personal.