Tom Riddle

I understand why some people don't consider Declan Rice one of the best midfielders around. There is nothing particularly extravagant about his game. No outrageous skill, no constant tricks, no single attribute that makes you stop and wonder how he does it. But that misses what makes him special. Rice can contribute to almost every facet of the game. He can win the ball with tackles like this, protect the defence, carry possession through midfield, break lines with his passing, arrive in the box and help Arsenal control the tempo of a match. We all know about his shooting and set piece qualities. He gives you tactical flexibility without needing the entire system to revolve around him. Then there is his availability and consistency. He is the kind of player you can build around because you know what you are likely to get from him every week. With his leadership qualities, he is one of the best unofficial captains around. He might not produce a 10/10 performance every time, but he will give you an 8/10 more often than most. And over the course of a long season, that reliability is worth a fortune. A key piece that helped Arteta unlock the Premier league title. Football has a tendency to overvalue the spectacular and undervalue the dependable. I like him because he is a reminder that being consistently excellent across multiple dimensions can be just as valuable as being exceptional at one.