Is Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice "world class"?

That's the question BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club have been debating after the 27-year-old recorded his fifth league assist of the season against Liverpool.

Since leaving West Ham United in a deal worth over £100m in July 2023, Rice has registered 25 assists in the Premier League - more than any other Arsenal player - with only Bruno Fernandes and Mohamed Salah delivering more league assists in that period.

"It surprises me a little bit because he doesn't get all the headlines those other two players do," former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given said on the England international's stats. "But it also doesn't surprise me because some of his performances are just immense.

"He is absolutely world class box-to-box. I know he got a bit of stick recently from Graeme Souness, who mentioned that he perhaps isn't world class or at the level people suggest, but his all-round performance against Liverpool was world class for me."

Mikel Arteta said he had a talk with Rice at the beginning of the season and told him he is no longer Arsenal's "lighthouse" - a nickname he had given him - and that he expected more this season.

The Arsenal boss said he will reveal Rice's new nickname at the end of the season, but that chat clearly stuck with Rice, who referenced the conversation after the Liverpool win.

"The way I've started this season is the position that suits me the most," Rice told Match of the Day. "The conversation that I had with the manager at the start of the season I've done well, but he believes I can still do more and he has drilled that into me."

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also called him "world class" after his latest dominant performance.

"He is one of the best midfield players Arsenal have ever had," Carragher said. "They have obviously had some great ones, but he is right up there with the best of them.

"He is the best midfield player in the Premier League by a long way. It isn't even a debate."