Arsenal have already signed Caicedo for a transfer fee of £45 million less than Rice’s.

This week could not have gone a lot better for Arsenal, however can they declare one other victory?

To date, the Gunners have maintained their good document in Europe with a 4-1 win over Tottenham within the North London derby, with Eberechi Eze scoring a hat-trick towards the staff he opted out of in the summertime, after which a 3-1 win over Bayern Munich within the Champions League.

However the massive video games proceed, with Sunday’s blockbuster conflict towards a staff who enter the weekend because the closest challengers to Premier League Chelsea. They’re now unbeaten on six visits to Stamford Bridge, having misplaced eight of their earlier 10 visits.

As all the time, the battle in midfield would be the key think about figuring out victory or defeat on this London derby, however will the unremarkable members of Mikel Arteta’s midfield unit actually be the important thing gamers?

Declan Rice vs. Moises Caicedo combat on the bridge

A lot of the pre-match dialogue heading into Sunday’s recreation revolves round each groups’ respective midfields.

Declan Rice himself, talking on CBS on Wednesday, was requested concerning the combat by Jamie Carragher and mentioned he had nice respect for Caicedo, saying Caicedo was an “excellent” participant final season and had began this marketing campaign “extremely effectively”.

The partnership between Enzo Fernandes and Moises Caicedo is definitely a energy in Chelsea’s staff, with The Athletic’s Michael Cox describing the latter as a “true all-rounder” who just isn’t solely good at successful the ball, but additionally “is ready to soar into assaults and cross ahead aggressively”.

However Arsenal’s midfield hasn’t been too unhealthy both, beginning 14 of the 16 Premier League and Champions League video games to date, with Rice main the cost towards Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos after being rested, scoring two objectives and offering six assists.

Within the aforementioned CBS interview, Rice asserted that he’s at present taking part in maybe one of the best soccer of his profession and might want to proceed to take action if Arsenal are to finish their anticipate a primary Premier League title since 2004.

However after all he cannot do all this alone and the England worldwide could have discovered the proper accomplice.

Arsenal’s response to Moises Caicedo

Following the summer time departures of Jorginho and Thomas Partey, Arsenal wanted to exchange the previous’s distinctive passing and the latter’s tenacity and ahead drive, and it seems they’ve discovered one participant who can do all of that and extra.

Whereas many Gamers League summer time signings have but to adapt to their new environment, Martin Zvimendi has seamlessly built-in into the Arsenal staff virtually from day one, as if he had been at Arsenal for years.

The Spaniard has been an virtually fixed function within the Premier League this season and has been extensively praised for his performances.

“It was very simple to play with him,” midfield accomplice Rice asserted on Wednesday, including, “From the primary second… I simply knew we had been going to play good soccer with him.”

Zvimendi’s most eye-catching efficiency to this point got here within the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in September, when he scored twice and his rocket that broke the impasse was named Premier League Purpose of the Month.

So, with Zvimendi immediately establishing himself as among the finest defensive midfielders within the Premier League, even early in his profession at Arsenal, the £60 million paid to Actual Sociedad to safe his contract (£45 million lower than what was paid to Rice) appears to be an absolute discount.

Based on FBref, that standing is just strengthened by his resemblance to Caicedo, with the Spaniard thought-about the midfielder most much like the Ecuadorian within the high flight this season, each statistically and stylistically.

As famous within the desk, Zvimendi and Caicedo’s stats are fairly related total.

The Ecuadorian worldwide tops out-of-possession metrics reminiscent of duels, interceptions and ball recoveries, however the Spaniard just isn’t far behind, topping most in-possession stats reminiscent of probabilities created, ahead passes and touches per 90.

Zvimendi’s £60m price appears like nice enterprise for Andrea Berta, provided that the opposite members of Sunday’s midfield battle – Rice, Fernandes and Caicedo – price in extra of £100m.

Zvimendi will proceed to be a key determine if the Gunners are to realize victory at Stamford Bridge and in the end declare silver in Might.