Declan Rice Eyes Midfield Showdown With Caicedo Ahead Of Chelsea Vs Arsenal Tie

England international, Declan Rice has set the tone for Sunday’s Premier League meeting between Chelsea and Arsenal, saying he is looking forward to renewing his on-pitch rivalry with Moisés Caicedo at Stamford Bridge.

The Arsenal midfielder spoke on Wednesday night after helping his side claim a confident 3-1 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

With attention now shifting to domestic duties, Declan Rice made it clear he is ready for whatever the Ecuadorian international brings to the midfield contest.

Ahead of the London derby, the England star revealed that his respect for Caicedo goes beyond the usual pre-match courtesies. He admitted that he even voted for the Chelsea man in his PFA Team of the Year selection.

“I voted Moisés Caicedo in my PFA Team of the Year,” Rice told CBS Sports.

The former West Ham captain described their battles as competitive but enjoyable, saying he embraces the challenge of facing one of the league’s most energetic midfielders.

“It’s going to be an exciting battle between Caicedo and me. I will be ready,” Declan Rice said.

“I have a lot of respect for Moisés. There is so much comparison between us, but we play in different positions.”

Both sides go into the London derby with contrasting pressures. Arsenal are chasing momentum after their strong European outing, while Chelsea will look to steady their season with a result on home soil. The Gunners are currently sitting top of the Premier League table, six points above second-placed Chelsea.

Sunday’s kick-off is scheduled for 5.30 p.m. Nigerian time.