According to a report by Metro on Thursday November 5, 2026, according to Dimitar Berbatov, a former striker for Manchester United, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice is far from ready to be ranked among the top midfielders in the world just yet.

With outstanding performances for Mikel Arteta's squad in both domestic and European competitions, Rice has had a fantastic start to the current season.

Last weekend, Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield thanks in large part to the impact of the England international, who was named man of the match once again for his efforts.

In Wednesday's hard-fought 2-1 Champions League victory over Slavia Prague, he kept up his outstanding form, which helped the Gunners improve their position in the league standings.

There is mounting evidence that Rice is one of the best central midfielders in the game, and his performances have garnered individual praise; he was named 15th in the most recent Ballon d'Or rankings.

Berbatov, on the other hand, thinks that Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, Vitinha of Paris Saint-Germain, and Rodri of Manchester City are three other midfielders that are better than the Arsenal star right now.

"In my opinion, these type of midfielders—Vitinha, Jude Bellingham, and Rodri—are among the best at the moment," the former Bulgarian international said in an interview with beIN Sports.

Regardless of his opinion, Berbatov spoke highly of Rice, praising him as a powerful figure who always brings enthusiasm and direction to Arsenal.

Arteta should consider resting his midfielder occasionally, according to the former striker, especially with an increasingly demanding fixture schedule coming up before December.

Berbatov praised Rice for his role in Arsenal's second goal against Slavia Prague, saying that his dogged pursuit of possession exemplified his valuable player qualities.

"Declan Rice is a real leader and he brings a lot of energy to every game," he continued.

Berbatov lauded Rice for his dedication and desire to battle for possession, attributes that, in his opinion, keep Rice an integral part of Arteta's team.