Chelsea v Arsenal: Premier League – live

Ed Aarons

Mikel Arteta is confident the best is to come from Declan Rice as Arsenal prepare for their top-of-the-table showdown at Chelsea.

The England midfielder was outstanding in Arsenal’s victories against Tottenham and Bayern Munich over the past week and will face the club where he spent seven years before being released aged 14. Arsenal lead second-placed Chelsea by six points and Arteta has not lost at Stamford Bridge in six visits as a manager.

Arteta signed Rice from West Ham in 2023 and said even he had been surprised by the 26-year-old’s progression since the £105m move. He was asked whether he thought Rice had reached his peak.

“Probably yes, a year or two ago, yes,” Arteta said. “But now being with him every single day and understanding and connecting with him in the way that I’ve done, we’re going to get more. Because he wants more and he’s going to get more. The team knows him better, his role is growing around the team, the impact that he has on the team is huge and we’ll find ways to make it even better.”