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Rio Ferdinand suggests Arsenal have a player who completely upstaged Jude Bellingham in their 2-1 win

Srinivas Sadhanand

Wed 16 April 2025 22:35, UK Updated Thu 17 April 2025 7:05, UK

Jude Bellingham was one of the Real Madrid players expected to step up if the hosts had any chance of pulling off a comeback for the ages against Arsenal in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final.

However, the Real Madrid superstar’s influence was limited by the Gunners, who made their way to the Santiago Bernabeu and left with a 2-1 win — courtesy of goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Bellingham revealed Real Madrid backed themselves against Arsenal as the night was “tailor-made” for a legendary fightback for the Spanish giants.

However, Rio Ferdinand felt that Declan Rice showed every Real Madrid midfielder up in the blockbuster Champions League clash, with Bellingham being one of them.

Rio Ferdinand hints Declan Rice showed Jude Bellingham up after Real Madrid vs Arsenal

Rio Ferdinand claimed via BBC Sport that Rice was far and away superior to Jude Bellingham and his Real Madrid teammates in midfield, such as Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni as Arsenal narrowly won on Wednesday night, saying via : “Declan Rice has been the best midfielder over the two games. By bit of a way. He looks so accomplished.

Rio Ferdinand continued his praise towards Rice as he shone against Bellingham and Co as Arsenal are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final after coming out on top against Real Madrid: “He looks so accomplished.”

However, the Manchester United legend was not the only pundit to laud Rice.

Matthew Upson was complimentary towards the 27-year-old as well via : “What a two games to cement yourself as one of the best midfielders on the planet.”

“Declan Rice is doing it in these two games.”

Comparing Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham’s stats after Real Madrid vs Arsenal

Rice idolised Real Madrid icon David Beckham growing up and now, his former teammate in Rio Ferdinand feels he was the best midfielder on the pitch for Arsenal that featured the likes of Bellingham, Valverde and Tchouameni — which goes to show his incredible ascent.

The former West Ham United skipper can now well and truly consider himself a world-class player, having stepped up on the highest level.

Comparing Rice and Bellingham on the night, the stats back the former.

Impressively enough, the Arsenal star upstaged the 21-year-old in almost every respect.

In possession, Rice created more chances (two) and had a better passing accuracy (96%) while even creating two chances.

While defensively, Rice won all of his tackles while Bellingham won just one of out three, only trumping the former in terms of winning more duels (eight).