Berbatov Names Three Midfielders Above Declan Rice

Former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov has named three midfielders he believes are currently ahead of Arsenal star Declan Rice. Despite Rice delivering a match-winning contribution in the Gunners’ 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield, Berbatov placed Vitinha, Jude Bellingham and Rodri above the England international.

Rice played a decisive role in Arsenal’s important Premier League win on Sunday, providing the assist for Kai Havertz’s only goal of the match. His performance earned him the Man of the Match award, further highlighting his importance to Mikel Arteta’s side.

However, Berbatov believes that while Rice is an outstanding midfielder, there are other players currently operating at a higher level. Speaking to Metro, the former Bulgaria international identified three names he considers among the best midfielders in world football at present.

Berbatov names Vitinha, Bellingham and Rodri ahead of Declan Rice

Berbatov selected Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha, Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham and Manchester City midfielder Rodri as the three players he rates above Rice. His assessment came despite the Arsenal midfielder producing another influential performance against Liverpool.

“He is good, but for me Vitinha, Jude Bellingham and Rodri still these type of midfield players are for me one of the best at the moment.”

The former Manchester United and Tottenham forward did not dismiss Rice’s quality. Instead, his comments reflected his belief that Vitinha, Bellingham and Rodri currently belong to the highest category of midfield players.

Each of the three players offers different qualities in midfield. Vitinha has become an important part of Paris Saint-Germain’s midfield, Bellingham provides creativity and attacking influence for Real Madrid, while Rodri is recognised for his control and ability to dictate the tempo of Manchester City’s play.

Berbatov’s choices therefore highlight the competition Rice faces when being compared with the leading midfielders in European football.

Berbatov praises Rice’s leadership and energy at Arsenal

Although Berbatov placed three midfielders above Rice, he was equally clear about the Arsenal star’s importance to Arteta’s team. He praised the England international’s consistency, leadership and ability to bring energy to every match.

“I think he is very important for the Arsenal team. There are other midfielders who are top.

“He brings a lot of energy to every game, you know what you get with Declan Rice and he is a real leader.”

Rice has become one of Arsenal’s key figures since joining the club. His contribution is not limited to winning possession or protecting the defence, as he also helps the team move forward and provides an important presence in the middle of the pitch.

His performance at Anfield demonstrated that influence once again. Rice supplied the assist for Havertz’s winning goal and helped Arsenal secure three valuable points against one of their major Premier League rivals.

Berbatov’s comments suggest that he recognises Rice as an influential player while maintaining that Vitinha, Bellingham and Rodri currently stand above him in his personal assessment.

Berbatov suggests Arsenal should give Rice some rest

Berbatov also raised concerns about the workload Rice could face during the demanding run of fixtures ahead. With Arsenal competing across multiple competitions, the midfielder is likely to remain an important part of Arteta’s plans.

The former striker suggested that the Gunners could consider giving Rice some time to recover rather than relying on him for every match during the busy period.

“For Arsenal he is very important and probably he should come off to rest a little bit because there are many games coming from now until December in this busy period.”

Rice continued to feature heavily for Arsenal after the Liverpool victory. He played the full 90 minutes in the Champions League match against Slavia Praha on Wednesday, leaving questions about whether Arteta would give him a break for the upcoming fixture against Hull City on Saturday.

Managing Rice’s minutes could be an important consideration for Arsenal as the season progresses. The midfielder’s importance to the team makes him difficult to leave out, but the demanding schedule could increase the need for rotation.

Rice’s record from the previous campaign also demonstrates how regularly he has been available. He missed only two Premier League matches during Arsenal’s title-winning campaign last season, underlining his durability and importance to the squad.

Carragher calls Declan Rice the best midfielder in the Premier League

Berbatov’s assessment contrasts with the opinion shared by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher following Arsenal’s victory at Anfield. Carragher praised Rice’s performance and went as far as describing him as the best midfielder currently playing in the Premier League.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher made his position clear, suggesting that Rice’s standing among Premier League midfielders was not a matter of debate.

“He’s the best midfield player in the Premier League by a long way. It’s not even a debate.”

Carragher’s praise did not stop there. He also described Rice as one of the finest midfielders to have represented Arsenal, comparing his importance to legendary figures Patrick Vieira and Liam Brady.

The comments underline how highly Rice is regarded by some former players and football analysts. While Berbatov believes Vitinha, Bellingham and Rodri are currently ahead of him, Carragher considers the Arsenal midfielder the standout player in his position in the Premier League.

Arsenal extend their advantage at the top of the Premier League

Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield proved significant in the Premier League title race. Havertz scored the decisive goal after receiving Rice’s assist, allowing the Gunners to leave Merseyside with all three points.

The result moved Arsenal three points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table. It also provided another demonstration of Rice’s influence in important matches, with the midfielder contributing directly to the winning goal.

With a demanding schedule approaching, Arteta will need to balance the importance of keeping Rice involved with the need to manage his workload. Whether the Arsenal manager decides to rest him against Hull City remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, the contrasting opinions from Berbatov and Carragher have added another talking point to the debate surrounding Rice’s position among the leading midfielders in football. Berbatov has identified Vitinha, Bellingham and Rodri as players currently ahead of him, while Carragher has backed Rice as the Premier League’s best midfielder.