Nedum Onuoha believes Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester City have the ‘best of the best’ among all Premier League midfielders with Declan Rice, Douglas Luiz and Rodri.
The three engine room sensations have astounded Onuoha so far this season. Rice, Luiz and Rodri have all been essential cogs in their club’s cores to end 2023 inside the top four of the Premier League table. And, for Onuoha, there are no better midfielders in the top-flight now.
Rice moved to Arsenal in the off-season after 10 years at West Ham United and instantly got a key spot. Mikel Arteta has started the 24-year-old in all 19 of the Gunners’ games. Luiz has also started 19 of Aston Villa’s 20 matches and Rodri has opened 16 of Manchester City’s 19.
Onuoha thinks Rice, Luiz and Rodri are the ‘best of the best’ in the Premier League
Villa Park coach Unai Emery has only not started Luiz when Aston Villa beat Brentford owing to his suspension. While Pep Guardiola has been without Rodri for three fixtures due to two suspensions. The 27-year-old has received a straight red card along with a yellow card ban.
Rice has only received two yellow cards during his top-flight appearances with Arsenal so far this season. The 48-cap England anchor has also established himself as a leader at Emirates Stadium. Rice has taken his three years with West Ham’s armband to conduct Arteta’s plans.
Onuoha now thinks Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester City have the cream of the crop in the Premier League with Rice, Luiz and Rodri. No other midfielder throughout the top-flight can hold a candle to those three technicians as far as the former Citizens defender believes.
“For me, Rodri, Declan Rice and Douglas Luiz have been the best of the best in midfield this season,” Onuoha said on the BBC’s Final Score.
Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester City can rely on their superstar midfielders
As well as emerging as an instant leader at Arsenal, Rice has scored vital goals. He got their late go-ahead goal to beat Manchester United 3-1, first to inspire a 2-2 draw at Chelsea and 97th-minute winner at Luton Town. Rice only scored more top-flight goals (4) over 2022/23.
Luiz has offered Aston Villa a frequent threat in the final third, as well. The 25-year-old even fired them ahead in the 98th minute against Crystal Palace. While Luiz offered the assist for Pau Torres’ equaliser to beat Tottenham and Nicolo Zaniolo’s reply against Sheffield United.
Likewise, Guardiola can rely on Rodri to deliver vital goal involvements for Manchester City. He produced their 88th-minute winner at Sheffield United and briefly restored their lead at 4-3 away to Chelsea. The Blues replied to his 86th-minute strike to salvage a late 4-4 draw.
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