Chris Davie
Published January 24, 2026 5:19pm
Updated January 24, 2026 5:19pm
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Paul Scholes believes Declan Rice has not been Arsenal’s standout performer this season (The Overlap)
Paul Scholes has questioned whether Declan Rice has been Arsenal’s best player this season and believes Jurrien Timber has been more influential for the Premier League leaders.
Rice has been one of many standout performers in Mikel Arteta’s side this term as the Gunners currently sit four points ahead of Manchester City, although their lead will be back to seven points with a win against Manchester United on Sunday.
But Scholes, who won 11 Premier League titles with Manchester United, feels Martin Zubimendi has been as equally key in Arsenal’s midfield and claims Arteta’s defensive players have had more influence on their season so far.
‘Has Declan Rice been that special this year?’ Scholes said on The Overlap’s latest fan debate.
‘I really like him, but I’m struggling to see that he is the best player in the league at this point.
Declan Rice has four goals and three assists in the Premier League this season (AFP via Getty)
‘I think your defenders have probably had a bigger influence than Declan Rice.
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‘I like him but I’m just saying I don’t think he is the best player in the Premier League this year.
‘I just think your defenders have had a bigger influence, the likes of Timber. I think Timber has been unbelievable. I think he has been brilliant.
‘I couldn’t say Zubimendi has been better than Rice or Rice has been better than Zubimendi.’
Paul Scholes believes Jurrien Timber has been more influential in Arsenal’s side (Getty)
Meanwhile, Carragher admits he is surprised that there has not been a standout player in Arsenal’s attack this season.
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‘I think I said a few months ago before he got injured, I actually thought, not the best player, but Gabriel [Magalhaes] was the most influential player in the Premier League with what he was doing at set-pieces and Arsenal’s defensive record,’ Carragher said.
‘On Monday Night Football I picked a team of the season so far, the interesting thing was I didn’t put an Arsenal player in the front four, so it was Haaland, Bruno Fernandes, Semenyo and Morgan Rogers, but there was no debate about an Arsenal player should be in there.
‘I just thought it was interesting, when you think of a team who are so far above everyone else in the league that we wouldn’t say anyone in the front four would be in a team of the season so far, I just don’t think that would ever be the case for a team who are six points clear.’
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