Declan Rice, a key midfielder for Arsenal, acknowledged that Kevin De Bruyne was a significant challenge for his team during their 1-0 Champions League victory over Napoli on Wednesday night. The match marked the start of the Champions League group stage, with Martin Odegaard scoring the decisive goal. Despite the win, Rice admitted that De Bruyne, playing his first start of the season after only three substitute appearances in Serie A, created "a lot of problems" for Arsenal. De Bruyne, who has faced Rice multiple times during their time together in the Premier League, was praised by Rice for his intelligence on the field. Rice said it was "nice" to play against his former rival again, highlighting De Bruyne's ability to "move into really good spaces." He also expressed personal satisfaction in seeing De Bruyne perform well, despite Arsenal's victory. De Bruyne's performance drew praise not only from Rice but also from Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta. After the match, Arteta shared warm words with De Bruyne, calling him "one of my favourite-ever players." Arteta reflected on their time together, noting that he had the "luxury to train and be with him for almost four years." He described De Bruyne as "one of the best midfielders ever" and expressed that it was a "joy to watch him play." The encounter between Arsenal and Napoli was a significant moment in the Champions League, showcasing the high level of competition expected in the tournament. While Arsenal secured the win, their acknowledgment of De Bruyne's impact highlights the respect he commands in the footballing world.