Paul Merson Anoints Declan Rice as Premier League’s Top No. 8

Merson credits Rice’s two-way influence for his status as the position’s standout.

Overview

In a Sportskeeda column, Paul Merson writes that Declan Rice affects the game more than any other midfielder playing the No. 8 role in the Premier League.
Merson praises Enzo Fernández’s work on the ball but says the Chelsea midfielder cannot match Rice’s defensive contribution.
He declines a direct Rice–Moisés Caicedo comparison, arguing they play different roles, and calls Caicedo the best specialist holding midfielder with Martin Zubimendi occupying that role for Arsenal.
The coverage reiterates that Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham in 2023 and now primarily operates as a left-sided central midfielder, occasionally deputising as a six.
Merson views Arsenal as title favourites based on current form and predicts a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.