Declan Rice has showered Moises Caicedo with praise ahead of Arsenal's Premier League clash with Chelsea this weekend, even revealing a classy gesture he made towards his opposing midfielder
Declan Rice has admitted that he voted for Moises Caicedo in the PFA Team of the Year last season. Arsenal are currently the ones to watch in the Premier League and Europe, tearing through opposition standing in their way.
The latest victims of Mikel Arteta's side were Bayern Munich, who had yet to experience defeat in any competition this season before their clash with the Gunners on Wednesday evening in the Champions League.
Goals from Jurrien Timber, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli secured a 3-1 victory for Arsenal on the night, in an emphatic display at the Emirates Stadium. However, they must now shift their attention back to the Premier League.
Following a 4-1 demolition of Tottenham at the weekend, Arsenal head to Stamford Bridge to lock horns with another set of London rivals, Chelsea, who currently sit second in the league. The match presents an opportunity to widen the gap at the top, though the hosts will view it as a chance to thrust themselves into this season's title race.
Several key battles could determine the outcome, but one particular matchup stands out. The midfield duel between Rice and Caicedo - two of the most eagerly awaited transfer sagas in recent Premier League history - is sure to draw attention.
Given the hefty transfer fees involved, both midfielders have performed admirably, setting the stage for a fascinating showdown, reports football.london. Looking forward to the match, Rice spoke about the upcoming duel on CBS Sports, where he shared his admiration for Caicedo.
He said: "I have a lot of respect for Moises Caicedo. I voted him last year in my PFA Team of the Year. I thought he was outstanding. There's so many comparisons, but we're playing different positions."
The fact that Rice would vote for Caicedo in the PFA Team of the Year last season shows just how highly he thinks of him. The midfielder continues to impress, with his ability to press high and win the ball back being a key part of Chelsea's game.
It sets up an exciting encounter between the two, with the victor of the duel likely determining the result of the match. Rice will be doing everything he can to ensure he comes out on top, having won the Player of the Match award for his performance against Bayern Munich.
It won't be a walk in the park for Arsenal, considering Chelsea's form, as well as the players they are still missing due to injury. The Gunners are still without a recognised striker, as well as Gabriel Magalhaes, while Leandro Trossard is a new injury worry after Wednesday night's match.
Arteta, fully aware of the challenge ahead, shared his thoughts with the media following the victory over Bayern Munich. He said: "We know.
"You just have to watch the game that they played against Barcelona yesterday to understand how difficult and tough and what a good team Chelsea are. So we know tomorrow, we start to prepare and we go from there."