Moises Caicedo vs Declan Rice: Who is the better midfielder? | OneFootball

Standard Sport reporters have their say on the debate that has split pundits and divided opinion among Chelsea and Arsenal fans

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It is the debate that has split pundits and divided opinion among Arsenal and Chelsea fans.

Both players have established themselves among the best in Europe since their £100milion-plus transfers two years ago and the question has sparked plenty of discourse on social media.

Here, Standard Sport reporters have their say…

Simon Collings

It really is hard to pick between Caicedo and Rice, who are undoubtedly the two best central midfielders in England right now.

Rice and Caicedo in opposition last season

Getty Images

Much of it comes down to what you want. Caicedo is the best performer defensively, with his 28 tackles in the Premier League this season emphatically trumping Rice’s six.

Caicedo also has more blocks, interceptions and ground duels. He has also won possession more times, too.

Offensively, even with Cached’s three goals, Rice excels, though. His 12 chances created dwarfs Caicedo’s one.

When it compares to ball carrying, there is no contest either, with Rice’s 1,401 metres comfortably better than Caicedo’s 837. There is a reason his nickname at Arsenal is 'The Horse'.

And it is that ability to make an impact in both boxes - deliver when it matters most - that, for me, gives Rice the edge.

Dom Smith

Caicedo and Rice are becoming more and more different in styles.

Rice said last week he sees himself chiefly as a No8, a box-to-box midfielder these days, and unlocking the 26-year-old further forward is paying dividends for both Arsenal and England.

His quality on the ball is marginally better than Caicedo’s, but Paul Scholes was right when he said Rice can tend to touch the ball too much. He’s adding goals and assists to his game without neglecting defending, but he could still be slicker, swifter with the ball.

Caicedo scored a stunning goal against Liverpool before the international break

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

The deepest of Chelsea’s midfielders, Caicedo's ability to cover ground off the ball and bite at the feet of opposing players is second to none.

With three league goals already, he’s taken real leaps in his goalscoring ability this season.

Rice may well be the best corner taker in the world and is a fine passer, but it is a myth that this is the area that lets Caicedo down. His 1,967 completed passes last season placed him first among all Premier League midfielders.

On the metric of tackles plus interceptions, only four players have more than 30 so far this term (none of whom are Rice). Then there is Caicedo, out on his own on 46.

The league’s best tackler, best interceptor, and its most prolific midfield passer, Caicedo is still only 23 but is already, I feel, a slightly better player than Rice.

But Simon (and Rio Ferdinand) is right. Let’s enjoy them both.

Matt Verri

These are two elite midfielders impacting the game at both ends of the pitch.

Roy Keane might point out "that's their job", particularly considering the price tags in excess of £100million, but Arsenal or Chelsea will both feel like they got value for money.

Rice is crucial to how the Gunners play. His set-piece delivery is truly world class and he carries the ball forward so powerfully in a team that can become too safe and predictable.

Rice is a key player in the Arsenal side going for the title

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Caicedo is the better shield in front of a defence. He has far more tackles and interceptions and that is needed in a Chelsea side that blows hot and cold. The fact Rice is being used further up the pitch means his defensive stats are inevitably down.

Caicedo has started to add goals to his game but he scored only twice last season. Rice matched that in free-kicks against Real Madrid alone.

Perhaps a good way of thinking about it is who would be more successful if they swapped shirts and roles. You would back Rice in a Chelsea shirt to do Caicedo's off-the-ball work and cover that ground.

Could Caicedo do what Rice does for Arsenal as effectively, particularly in the final third? Maybe not. I think Rice has the edge.

Sam Tabuteau

Logic dictates that whoever I pick, someone will brandish me as having negative ‘ball knowledge’.

So, for the record, I believe Rice and Caicedo are currently the Premier League’s two best midfielders.

That said, for me Caicedo edges this debate, having now added goals to his game amid the litany of last-ditch challenges and lung-busting runs - Caicedo leads the Premier League for tackles (28) and interceptions (18) this season.

Rice is also capable of the spectacular, just take his virtuoso display against Real Madrid last season. However, I feel what he lacks is that gritted determination to dig in and drag Arsenal across the line when a result isn’t going their way.

Until they win something, Arsenal just like England are nearly men. Does Rice have it in him to turn the tide of a game? He didn’t against Spain in the Euros final.

Caicedo, though, has taken the onus in two consecutive finals for Chelsea, running the show as the Blues won the Conference League and the Club World Cup in the space of three months.

Is Rice capable of that? From an England standpoint let’s hope so. Have I seen proof? Not yet.