Arsenal Midfielder: 'It would be fantastic to be mentioned for the Ballon d'Or'

In this pivotal stage of the campaign, as Arsenal contends for several titles, remarks concerning the Ballon d'Or have shed interesting light from inside the team.

In a season considered a turning point for Arsenal, midfielder Declan Rice has emerged as the leader of the midfield, both technically and in spirit. Joining the London club from West Ham United for a record fee in 2023, he quickly became an irreplaceable component in manager Mikel Arteta's tactical system.

This season, Rice has been a consistent presence across all competitions, helping Arsenal maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League and fueling ambitions for an historic quadruple. The "Gunners" also reached the Carabao Cup final, advanced deep into the FA Cup, and progressed to the UEFA Champions League round of 16.

Although his exceptional personal form has seen him enter the conversation for the Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball), Rice maintains a very clear perspective on his primary objectives. When asked about the possibility of competing for this prestigious individual award, the English midfielder remained calm and prioritized the team.

Speaking to The Sun, Rice stated: “It would be fantastic, obviously. You always want to be mentioned in those kinds of discussions. Those are the conversations you want to be a part of. But when you look at the recent Ballon d'Or winners, you see clearly what they achieved with their teams during the season.”

Rice also emphasized that personal success only truly matters when accompanied by team trophies. He added: “Hopefully we will have a successful season and I can be part of those conversations. That would be amazing. But if not, it's not something I'm fixated on. I want the team to succeed first.”

The pressure on Arsenal is immense, as the club has gone six years without a major trophy since their victory over Chelsea in the 2020 FA Cup final. Recent setbacks have raised questions about their mental fortitude, but the dressing room remains confident about their chance to end the trophy drought. The Carabao Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium is seen as a psychological milestone for the season. Rice didn't hide his excitement, saying: “I'm incredibly excited. This is everything we've been working towards. It would be the first trophy of the season, something you can win and then use as momentum for what's left.”

The English midfielder believes a major victory in March could create a chain reaction for the long race ahead. He affirmed: “We are in a very good position, having reached the final with a chance to win. The match is in March, with two months of the Premier League remaining, so it could provide a massive mental boost. We definitely want to win it.”

In closing, Declan Rice understands that any individual praise or awards only hold real meaning alongside collective success. With Arsenal having the opportunity to end their years-long trophy drought, the English midfielder and his teammates are not just aiming for a single cup; they also want to affirm the character of a squad capable of dominating the most decisive moments of the season.