RICE FOR GOLD: EMMANUEL PETIT BACKS DECLAN RICE TO WIN THE 2026 BALLON D'OR
Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit backs Declan Rice for the Ballon d'Or. Discover why the 2026 title race is Rice's time to shine.
Emmanuel Petit thinks Arsenal fans might have a lot to celebrate by the end of the season – a Premier League title after all these years and maybe even a Ballon d’Or winner in their squad.
Right now, Arsenal sit four points clear of Manchester City with just 12 games to go. It’s been almost two decades since they last won the league, and after three straight years finishing second, this feels different. The team finally looks ready to break the drought.
Yeah, they dropped points against Brentford with that 1-1 draw, but honestly, they’ll expect to bounce back on Wednesday against Wolves, who are struggling at the bottom. After that, all eyes turn to Sunday’s huge north London derby with Tottenham. Big week ahead.
Arsenal are still fighting on all fronts and are still alive in every competition, which is no small feat. Petit is backing them to finally grab that Premier League title, and he thinks that kind of success can open the door for individual awards too.
No Arsenal player has ever won the Ballon d’Or, but Petit believes Declan Rice could change that. Rice has been outstanding, both in the league and in Europe. If he keeps this up, and especially if he shines at the World Cup this summer, he’s got a real shot at picking up some big honours when the Ballon d’Or comes around in September.
Petit put it pretty simply: Declan Rice might be leading the Ballon d’Or race right now, but the World Cup matters too. Still, he’s clear Rice and Arsenal have to win something this season. You can be as talented as you want, but if you don’t have trophies to show for it, you’re not in the conversation with the best.
It’s not enough just to be recognised as a special player. To really be considered one of the greats, you need to win titles.
The closest Arsenal ever came to a Ballon d’Or winner was Thierry Henry finishing second in 2003, just behind Pavel Nedved. Now Rice, who’s 27 and cost Arsenal £105 million from West Ham last year, is probably their most important player. He’s already been named in back-to-back PFA Teams of the Year, helped England reach two European Championship finals, and just keeps raising his game.
Even Gary Lineker recently said Rice is one of the frontrunners for Premier League Player of the Season. He was chatting with his mates about it; if United keep going strong and Bruno Fernandes keeps piling up goals and assists, he’s in the mix too. Erling Haaland’s name always comes up, especially if he starts scoring again. Gabriel, Arsenal’s defender, deserves a shout as well.
But right now? There’s no clear winner yet. Still, Lineker called Bruno “a bloody good footballer", and you know what, the same goes for Rice. He’s been massive for Arsenal. And if things keep going their way, he could be lifting some serious silverware both for the team and on his own.
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
