In a recent interview, Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher commended Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice, praising him as one of the top five midfielders in the world. Despite facing some criticism during England’s Euro 2024 campaign, Gallagher maintains that Rice is a world-class player who continues to demonstrate improvement. As Arsenal’s record signing, Rice had an exceptional first season at Emirates Stadium, featuring in all 38 of Arsenal’s Premier League matches.
When asked to rank Rice globally, Gallagher stated on talkSPORT, “I would say around the top five. He is definitely up there, and the exciting thing is he’s getting better as well. He’s only just moved to a top team like Arsenal, and he’s still vastly improved from when he was at West Ham. So, it’s really exciting for England, and like I said, he’s a top guy as well.”
Gallagher himself had limited playing time during England’s Euros campaign, making second-half appearances in the group games against Serbia and Denmark. England’s manager, Gareth Southgate, opted to bring on Gallagher in extra time during the last-16 clash with Slovakia, as England defended their lead.
In addressing his restricted playing time, Gallagher expressed understanding, stating, “Obviously it’s not nice. I was really excited. But it was a really difficult game, I don’t think we were particularly playing great or creating many chances. I understand the manager wanted to change a couple of things tactically and bringing on Kobbie to come a bit deeper and get on the ball, progress the ball is completely understandable.”
Furthermore, Gallagher recognized the skill and experience of former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka, who will be part of the Switzerland side facing England in the Euros. Gallagher added, “He’s obviously a top player as well. He had a good time at Arsenal and obviously had a fantastic season at Bayer Leverkusen. He’s got loads of experience, a lot of quality. He’s a leader for Switzerland. So we’ve got to make sure we’re at our best, whoever comes directly up against him, he is a great player.”
It is evident that Gallagher holds great respect and admiration for the quality and experience of his fellow players. While there may be varying levels of playing time and success for these players, they all contribute to the excitement and competition of the sport. It is this level of respect and camaraderie that makes the beautiful game all the more captivating.