Former Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent has voiced a bold opinion, asserting his preference for Arsenal’s midfield maestro Declan Rice over Paris Saint-Germain’s star forward Kylian Mbappe.

Bent made this striking declaration while participating in talkSPORT’s UEFA Champions League semi-finals coverage.

Rice’s acquisition by Arsenal from West Ham United for a staggering £105 million raised eyebrows, yet his exceptional performances have silenced critics.

He seamlessly complements team captain Martin Odegaard in midfield, featuring prominently in 49 matches this season.

Beyond his defensive prowess, Rice has displayed remarkable creativity and goal-scoring abilities, tallying seven goals and 10 assists.

His contributions have been instrumental in Arsenal securing 17 clean sheets.

When posed with the hypothetical scenario of trading Rice for Mbappe, Bent staunchly rejected the notion, stating unequivocally, “No, absolutely not.”