Garth Crooks believes Arsenal made the right decision by letting Granit Xhaka depart and upgrading their midfield with Declan Rice.
Rice cost Arsenal £105 million to sign and I recently read that the Englishman has been so good for Arsenal that there hasn’t been much discussion about how much it cost the Gunners to bring him on board.
Some players (who I’m sure you’re aware of) have been purchased for exorbitant sums and have failed to live up to their billing. Which leaves pundits mocking clubs for signing them.
Thankfully, Rice is not one of them and has altered the Arsenal midfield’s dynamics. He is all action from start to finish, and football needs to design a new position for this all-around monster.
He is a powerful player and one of Arsenal’s most essential players. He’s effective in the middle, managing the team with his brilliant abilities in defence and initiating attack plays.
He’s simply too excellent, whether defending or moving across the pitch. He is now the Premier League’s finest DM. (Rodri fans would argue with this, and it is okay; they have their right to.)
But Garth Crooks has claimed in his BBC piece that Rice is already a better player than he was at West Ham and is surely a crucial part of Arsenal’s title challenge. “Rice was impressive when he played for West Ham, but he has added a real authority to his game,” Crooks said.
“It could prove to be the difference between Arsenal winning the title because of his reliability and them losing it with unpredictability and occasionally volatile Granit Xhaka. I know who I prefer.”
Can you consider Arsenal’s midfield without Declan Rice? Sorry, I can’t.
Darren N
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Fully agree and we now have Kai playing to his true potential
Granit at his stadium on Thursday with his family.
Let’s give this guy the send off he deserves
Think the writer miss the point, Rice was not a replacement for Xhaka but more in the role of Thomas Partey or to play as a double pivot with the Ghanaian if he was fit.
It is the big German that was brought in to be played in Xhaka role
Exactly Gunsmoke 💯%
Thank You
Rice is the Beast. The best present would be Partey to get fit for the new year and a midfield of Rice, Partey and Odergaard can take us too the title.
This would be a dream midfield Reggie.. But I have a feeling even with a fit Partey, Arteta seems to have a soft spot for Kai and would still play him ahead of Partey
You may be right Bobo. Yes Haverz has improved he had to but not enough to get him in over a fit Partey. Haverz is still a bit flakey for me but can do a job, but not over Partey.