LONDON, ENGLAND — Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has snubbed his own teammates by backing England captain Harry Kane to win the Ballon d’Or, while Mikel Merino was described as “rusty” following his return to the starting lineup in Arsenal’s Champions League victory over Napoli.
Rice earned his second consecutive nomination for the prestigious individual award after playing a key role in Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning campaign last season. His teammates William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães have also been included among the nominees following their impressive performances. Despite representing Arsenal alongside two fellow contenders, Rice admitted that he would like to see Kane claim the prize after another outstanding campaign in Germany.
Kane enjoyed a remarkable season with Bayern Munich, scoring 61 goals as the German giants secured the Bundesliga title for a second consecutive year. His performances have placed him firmly among the leading candidates for the individual honour. Rice spoke about his latest Ballon d’Or nomination after Arsenal’s 1-0 Champions League victory over Napoli, and while delighted to be recognised again, the midfielder made it clear that he would be happy to see his England teammate take home the award.
Some Arsenal supporters may have hoped Rice would support Saliba or Gabriel, but his backing of Kane reflects the strong relationship they have developed through their time together with the England national team. The two players have been central to England’s recent successes, and Rice’s endorsement underscores the bond forged in the international setup.
Arsenal began their Champions League campaign with a narrow victory over Napoli on Wednesday, with captain Martin Odegaard scoring the decisive goal in the second half. The result continued Arsenal’s strong start to the season as Mikel Arteta’s side look to make another deep European run after losing last season’s Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain.
Meanwhile, Mikel Merino was assessed after starting against Napoli. The Spain international has been gradually reintegrated after returning late from the World Cup. Merino completed 65 minutes but was described as “rusty” by former Arsenal defender Martin Keown following his lengthy absence from the starting XI.
Keown nevertheless remains optimistic about Arsenal’s prospects this season, praising the team’s determination and mentality as they continue their impressive start to the campaign. The Gunners have now won their opening three Premier League matches and begun their European campaign with a hard-fought victory, positioning themselves as genuine contenders on multiple fronts.
