Bayern Munich’s dressing room has been unusually loud since their 3–1 Champions League loss to Arsenal, and the focus of the conversation isn’t the referee, tactics, or missed chances. Instead, one Arsenal player has become the unexpected obsession inside the German camp.
For years, Bayern have dominated Arsenal whenever the sides met in Europe, famously dismantling them 5–1 on three separate occasions. But Wednesday night at the Emirates was different. Arsenal were sharper, hungrier, and far more controlled. And at the heart of everything good they produced was Declan Rice.
Declan Rice Takes Over the Biggest Stage… Again
Rice didn’t score and he didn’t assist, but he didn’t need to. From the first whistle, he dictated the contest with authority — snapping into duels, covering ground effortlessly, and driving Arsenal forward whenever he had the ball.
UEFA had no hesitation naming him Player of the Match, and you couldn’t find anyone inside the stadium who disagreed.
Bayern players certainly didn’t.
According to Bayern Space, a well-connected Bayern insider on X, Rice’s name has been “repeatedly” mentioned in the squad’s post-match discussions. Many players reportedly described the Arsenal midfielder as “untouchable”, completely controlling the rhythm and territory of the game.
One source put it simply:
“Bayern’s midfield collapsed in his shadow.”
Coming from a team stacked with elite players, that’s about as big a compliment as Rice could get.
Rice’s Best Form Yet
Arsenal fans already know how consistent Rice has been since joining the club, but this season he has hit a different level. His performance against Tottenham in the North London Derby was immense, and he followed it up with a dominant showing against Bayern that felt like a statement to Europe.
Next up: Chelsea.
A lot has been said about the Rice vs Caicedo debate — a comparison that has followed both players since their big-money moves. Roy Keane recently claimed he’d choose Rice “every day of the week,” and most Arsenal supporters would echo that sentiment.
Rice has never lost to Chelsea in an Arsenal shirt, and if he delivers another commanding display this weekend, the conversation about who the Premier League’s best midfielder is may finally be settled.
A Chance to Make Another Statement
The Arsenal star is building a reputation as a big-game player — the kind who shows up when the lights are brightest. And if Sunday’s clash with Chelsea goes anything like Wednesday night’s Champions League performance, we might be watching a midfielder at the absolute peak of his powers.
