Arsenal have their own 'Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard' ahead of Brighton Carabao Cup clash

There have been many top performers this term. David Raya, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes continue to provide essential stability at the back. Up top, Noni Madueke has impressed since his summer switch from Chelsea, Eberechi Eze has started to come good and goals, at least in Europe, are coming for striker Viktor Gyokeres.

But Declan Rice, in the eyes of former Premier League star Tony Cottee, has been a level above.

Big questions were asked when the England international arrived for a fee of £100million in the summer of 2023. In the eyes of many, that sum was too much and a reflection of football's over-inflated market.

Yes, Rice had produced the goods for West Ham. Yes, he had established himself as a key player for his country. Yes, it was obvious that he had the makings of a top player.

But it was still seen as a gamble nonetheless. Arsenal, with all due respect, are a bigger team than West Ham. That means added pressure, an added need for players to succeed.

Fast-forward to now, however, and nobody is questioning the sum now. Rice has been worth his weight in gold, with the 26-year-old set to marshal their midfield for many years to come.

In the eyes of former football star Tony Cottee, who made 212 appearances for West Ham during his playing days, Rice is the best midfielder in the world.

And comparisons between Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, in his eyes, are entirely justified.

"I think I think Dec is a bit unique really and he's probably in terms of being to do everything, he probably is the best because he can he can literally do the lot," he exclusively told GB News via Non gamstop casino.

"For me, when I watched Declan when he grew up as a kid at West Ham,everyone was saying his best position is centre half.

"And I think ultimately we'll probably find Declan there in seven or eight years’ time and he'll have a long career at the back throughout his 30s.

"He's got that defensive side to his game, he's got that box to box where he can get backwards, upwards, sideways, he can go wherever he wants you.

"He's got wonderful technical ability in terms of his first touch and his passing ability and then the only slight thing where you would have said maybe in his early days at West Ham, the only questions would have been well can he finish, has he got that finishing attribute?

"I think he's shown not only with his set pieces from corners, the ability to put the ball on a certain spot pretty much every time, but you've only got to look at his two-goal contribution against Real Madrid.

"I was watching that game live last season, that was just an incredible 10 minutes of football where he scored two goals.

"He probably won't ever get two goals like that, it was two phenomenal goals.

"So I think if you're looking at complete all-round midfield players, I think Dec’s right up there - I'm really struggling to think of someone that can do everything that Declan can.

"I mean we always think could he have played in the 70s and the 80s and the 90s when the pitches were muddy and all that? Of course he could!

"He would be that sort of player sliding around doing sliding tackles, and he is a bit of a throwback.

"I can see the Gerrard comparison, and I can see a Frank Lampard comparison."

Now, the onus will be on Rice to live up to that lofty praise.

Arsenal, should they beat Brighton, will start to dream of Carabao Cup glory. They've not won the competition since 1993, back where George Graham ruled the roost.