Arsenal win was no fluke – Declan Rice showed why he could be Footballer of the Year

Arsenal’s winner against Sporting may have come in the 91st minute, but it was no backs-to-the-wall smash-and-grab; like he has done all season, Declan Rice ran the midfield

When the winning team’s keeper gets man-of-the-match the narrative quickly becomes they were lucky. David Raya got the UEFA award after making three great saves as Arsenal won at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night.

And no-one could argue with that because Raya has been brilliant for much of the season and it is hard to think of many better keepers in Europe right now. But, equally, Arsenal’s win was not a backs-to-the-wall, hanging on for dear life and a smash-and-grab goal at the end.

It was measured, mature and controlled. They weathered the early storm, slowed the game down in the first half and looked excellent. In the second half, Arsenal were even better. They bossed the game, kept the ball well and they earned the win with Kai Havertz’s winner.

At the heart of that performance was Declan Rice, who bossed midfield. If any player was missed at Southampton then it was him. Rice has been sensational this season for Arsenal. And if we are talking about Footballer of the Year candidates then it has to be him from an Arsenal perspective.

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My top three would be Rice, Raya and Gabriel. A few weeks back, I would have plumped for Gabriel. Now I would be inclined to vote for Rice.

My view is always go for a player from the champions so there is a while to go yet. Back in 2011 I learnt a lesson by voting for Scott Parker for the Football Writers’ Association award. West Ham went down that year. It seemed like a good idea at the time. If Manchester City come through and win the title then it should be a City player.

Raya should be in the conversation. But the conversation has to end with Rice. Over the course of the season, he has been brilliant. It is idiotic to suggest that he was not injured and Arsenal somehow pulled all of their internationals out of the various March camps.

Rice and Bukayo Saka were genuinely injured. Rice could not have played at Southampton or been on the bench. Because he was injured.

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Players do not want to miss internationals in a World Cup year. But for Rice to come back at Sporting with his familiar brand of energy, work rate and quality was phenomenal.

Rice produced a marauding midfield masterclass and if Arsenal can keep him fit for the rest of the season then they will feel a lot more confident about winning the major trophies.

There has not been a goalkeeper winning the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award since Neville Southall in 1985. I remember seeing Everton a few times that season. Southall produced one of the best saves I have ever seen live at Tottenham as Everton won a crunch game 2-1.

Raya has produced a couple in my top five this season. Brighton at home for one. His incredible double save at Atlanta in September 2024 is probably still my favourite of all time.

Let’s be clear. His early fingertip save onto the bar from Sporting’s Maxi Araújo was fantastic. The other two in the second half were saves he would be disappointed not to make. If he does not save at his near post or he spills the shot then they go down as errors. As Roy Keane might say, that’s his job.

When it comes to Rice, it is all about the energy, the drive and determination to get Arsenal over the line.

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