Arsenal 5-0 Leeds: Declan Rice only missing one thing as Gunners Invincible makes "top five in the world" claim

Arsenal fulcrum Declan Rice is one of the top five midfielders in the world, and the only thing now missing from his CV is a team honour, a Gunners Invincible has exclusively told Sports Mole.

The £105m man demonstrated his dead-ball prowess and engine room excellence in Saturday's 5-0 win over Leeds United, as Mikel Arteta's men made it two for two in the 2025-26 season to surge to the top of the Premier League table.

Rice was responsible for the corner that led to Riccardo Calafiori's winner in last weekend's 1-0 triumph over Manchester United, and the England international delivered another pinpoint corner to help Arsenal break the deadlock on Saturday through Jurrien Timber.

Following the break, another devastating Rice corner caused chaos in the box before Timber poked in his second, and the 26-year-old was near faultless on the ball as well, registering an exceptional 97% pass success rate.

Sports Mole recently asked Arsenal legend Ray Parlour whether Rice was a top-five or perhaps even top-three midfielder on the planet, to which the three-time Premier League winner replied: "Top five midfielders in the world, I think so yes.

Rice "just needs to win" Arsenal or England trophy, Parlour claims

"Declan is a great lad, a hard worker, a great midfielder and proven in the England set up too. He just now needs to win something at domestic with Arsenal and even better would be with England.

“Declan is so talented. He runs games, scores, drives with the ball, tackles well and is a leader on the pitch. You want him on your side, rather than play against.”

Rice has won just two team honours during his career so far, captaining West Ham United to the 2022-23 Conference League title and winning the 2023 Community Shield on his Arsenal debut against Manchester City.

However, the midfielder's lack of silverware has not diminished his standing among the globe's finest midfielders, and he has now had a direct hand in 38 goals from 105 games for Arsenal since his £105m move from the Irons two seasons ago.

Rice has struck 16 goals of his own for Arteta's side while laying on another 22 assists, and the 26-year-old will have a critical role to play if the Gunners are to deny Liverpool victory in next weekend's mouthwatering Anfield showdown.

Which other midfielders can be considered the best in the world?

Parlour's claim that Rice is among the top five midfielders in the world contradicts our own views, as Sports Mole recently compiled its list of the 10 best fulcrums on the planet currently playing, and the Arsenal man did not even make the selection.

Instead, reigning Ballon d'Or holder Rodri was crowned the best midfielder on the globe, while Real Madrid's Federico Valverde and Barcelona's Pedri took the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Liverpool new boy Florian Wirtz and Chelsea's Moises Caicedo completed the top five, while Vitinha, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Alexis Mac Allister and Jamal Musiala were also selected ahead of Rice.

Nevertheless, the Englishman's influence on both club and country is there for all to see, and while other players have failed to justify nine-figure price tags in the past, Rice has been worth every penny of Arsenal's record fee.

Ray Parlour was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of NetBet Online Casino.