One is Arsenal’s heartbeat. The other is becoming their headline act.
And Emmanuel Petit believes both could define a season that ends a 22-year wait.
Emmanuel Petit Names Arsenal’s Two Best Players — And Viktor Gyökeres Gets Special Praise
As Arsenal edge closer to a potential Premier League breakthrough, one of the club’s iconic double winners has delivered his verdict.
Emmanuel Petit — a champion with Arsenal in 1998 — has identified the two players he believes are driving Mikel Arteta’s title charge. And while one name was expected, the other tells the story of a dramatic transformation.
Speaking as a pundit for Stadium Astro, Petit singled out Declan Rice and Viktor Gyökeres as the Gunners’ standout performers this season — two players on completely different journeys, yet equally vital to Arsenal’s ambitions.
Declan Rice: The Relentless Leader
For Petit, Rice remains the foundation.
“I really like, as always, Declan Rice,” he said. “He has been a leader ever since he signed for Arsenal and he impresses me.”
It’s the kind of endorsement that carries weight. Petit himself formed one of Arsenal’s most dominant midfield partnerships alongside Patrick Vieira during the 1997–98 double-winning season. When he speaks about leadership in midfield, he speaks from experience.
Rice’s impact has been immediate and consistent. Rarely dropping below a 7/10 performance, he has become the stabiliser in Arteta’s system — the player who dictates tempo, shields the defence, and lifts standards when pressure rises.
If his season were plotted on a graph, it would be almost flat — not because of mediocrity, but because of relentless consistency. Week after week, he delivers.
When the conversation drifted toward the possibility of Rice winning the Ballon d’Or, Petit responded with a calming gesture — suggesting it may be too early for such claims. But the implication was clear: if Arsenal lift the Premier League and go deep in Europe, Rice will inevitably enter elite conversations.
Add a strong World Cup with England to that equation, and the narrative could escalate quickly.
Viktor Gyökeres: From Doubt to Dominance
But if Rice is Arsenal’s steady pulse, Gyökeres is the season’s plot twist.
Petit was quick to praise the striker’s resurgence.
“I really like as well the reaction of Gyökeres,” he said. “Now he has to score against top teams the same way Arsenal have to win against top teams — they are linked.”
That final sentence may be the most telling.
Earlier in the campaign, Gyökeres’ arrival raised eyebrows. By Christmas, he had just five goals and questions were beginning to surface. Was he the right investment? Had Arsenal miscalculated?
Fast forward to 2026, and the narrative has flipped dramatically.
No player in England has scored more goals in the calendar year. Gyökeres has gone from a hesitant addition to a central figure in Arsenal’s title push. His confidence has surged. His movement is sharper. His finishing, ruthless.
If Rice’s season is a steady climb, Gyökeres’ is a vertical spike.
The striker now carries the responsibility Petit subtly referenced — delivering against the biggest teams, in the biggest moments. Arsenal’s ability to win defining matches is directly tied to Gyökeres’ ability to produce when it matters most.
Two Arcs, One Mission
Arsenal’s title bid feels like a television drama approaching its climax.
Rice is the dependable protagonist — consistent, composed, always present.
Gyökeres is the redemption arc — doubted early, unstoppable now.
Different paths. Same destination.
Petit, like many former Arsenal players, is desperate to see the club end its 22-year Premier League drought. Having experienced glory himself, he recognises the ingredients required.
Leadership. Goals. Mental resilience.
In Rice and Gyökeres, he sees all three.
Now comes the final test: can they carry Arsenal over the line?
Because if they do, this season won’t just be remembered for a trophy.
It will be remembered for the partnership that made it possible.
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