Declan Rice has claimed that one Manchester City player is ‘the best in the world’ right now.

Arsenal and Pep Guardiola‘s side are battling it out to win the Premier League title this season.

The Gunners are currently on top of the table, but Manchester City are the favourites because they’re only a point behind and have a game in hand over the North Londoners.

Rice has had a massive impact on this Arsenal side since he arrived at the club last summer. He has arguably been their best player.

The Englishman has now had his say on a Manchester City star who he thinks is the best in the world at what he does.

Declan Rice explains why he’s very different to Manchester City’s Rodri

Rodri is, in many people’s eyes, the best defensive midfielder in the world.

The Spaniard, who joined Manchester City for £62 million in 2019 (BBC), is Pep Guardiola’s main man in the middle of the park every single week.

When Rodri plays, Manchester City have the best chance of winning – the champions lost all three games that he missed in the Premier League due to suspension this season.

Arsenal star Declan Rice, in a way, is just as important to Mikel Arteta’s side.

The former West Ham man has barely put a foot wrong since he joined the Gunners, and many feel he is a similar player to Rodri.

However, Rice completely disagrees and has explained why he feels he’s very different.

He told The Athletic: “We’re different players, I feel. With Rodri, he was born in Spain, he’s always been a natural No 6.

“You can just tell by the way he plays that he’s worked under Pep (Guardiola) for so long. He’s a lot more structured than I am.

“I’d say I’m a lot more off-the-cuff. Obviously, this season I’ve been more structured. But in terms of the way I play, I feel like… being free a little bit more.”

Hailing Rodri, Rice added: “There are different things that we complement each other on — but no doubt, he’s the best in the world.”

How Mikel Arteta saved the Premier League last summer

Arsenal made Declan Rice their top transfer target very early last year, and they went all out to sign him from West Ham.

The Gunners, however, weren’t short of competition.

Manchester City wanted Rice too and Pep Guardiola even admitted recently that the Englishman snubbed him to join Arsenal.

That, in our opinion, saved the Premier League.

Manchester City could still end up winning the title this season, but if they had signed Rice ahead of Arsenal, the league would’ve been wrapped up a month ago.

A midfield of Rice, Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne would beat any side in the world. Everyone should be thanking Arteta for stopping that from happening.

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