Why Arsenal should sign Moises Caicedo over Declan Rice by Vivek Julka
It is well reported that Arsenal are looking to add to their midfield this summer. This is due to the lack of good options we currently have. Thomas Partey’s form has fallen off once again, Jorginho has done well since coming in, however he is not the long-term solution, and Granit Xhaka is coming to the final year of his contact and is set to be leaving in 2024.
With this being the case, we need to reinforce our midfield, and that has to be done this summer. Two players who are being constantly mentioned as potential signings are Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo. Both of them are top players in their positions in the Premier league and ideally, we should get them both. However, this is Arsenal, and as Edu is in charge, we will end up with only one of them, and some random Brazilian teenager and this deluded fanbase will get excited once again over a player they have never heard of.
However, if I have to pick one out of Caicedo or Rice. It has to be Caicedo. He has had a much better season and is one of the reasons why Brighton have performed so well this season. He has made the second most tackles this season in the league and has put in many Man of the Match performances, most notably in the FA cup semi-final against Man United when he was even played out of position. This transfer should have been done in January along with the Jorginho deal, as this would have put us in a much better position in the title race. However, Edu messed it up n(or Brighton point-blank refused to sell), but must right that wrong this summer and offer over £70 million to get the deal done.
Declan Rice is a good player, there isn’t a doubt about that. But he has only come into good form towards over the last month or so, maybe because he is playing for a move now. Yes, West Ham have been mostly poor this season, but so has he. The reported £120 million price tag is ridiculous, he is worth half of that. English tax is real. For him to come 7th in the FWA awards is just as ridiculous. He finished above the likes of Caicedo and Joao Palhinha which shows the English bias.
Caicedo is the better and more versatile player with a higher ceiling, and we should definitely focus all our attention on signing Moises instead of Declan Rice. However, let’s hope he doesn’t have a good game against us on Sunday!
by Vivek Julka
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Caicedo is much much better than Rice..
Caicedo hasn’t got the physical presence needed. Rice was once a CB so very good in defence. Rice can be developed to score goals. Caicedo goal scoring ability is poor.
Rice is a leader and English and will find favour with biased English referees
“Trust the process “is the motto of this regime and indeed we have gone from bad to good to better, so the best is coming soon.
Either of them will do me
DR will alway cost more due to his nationality
His form has been mediocre this season bar the last month but saying that the team have been so poor this season and he must be worn out the last couple of season having to carry them
Both together would be perfect but let’s see how deep our pockets are.
Have a feeling TP will not be here and moves on before next season and if we could cash in on him that would be funds added
Onwards and upwards
That’s interesting about partey. I hope you’re wrong as I think he’d be incredibly difficult to replace adequately (I think caicedo could do it, but he might take time to adapt), but for some reason I wouldn’t be shocked if he did go this summer…
Agree with the article – caicedo has shown he will always turn up, even in the big games, plus he’s far more flexible and versatile and I believe he’s a far more skilled/rounded player.
I’m not convinced rice is or could be better than what we have currently, and I think it’s crazy to consider paying so much money for someone who might not be one of our best players.
I agree with your submission.
Caicedo over Rice any day.
Caicedo’s stats sound much better than Rice’s and Arsenal must have done their due diligence before they launched an official bid in the previous transfer window
However, Rice’s aerial ability is better than Caicedo’s and Arteta seems to like experienced tactical midfielder with a big passion
In my opinion, the £70+ M budget would be better used to sign a CM from one of the relegation-zone clubs and the rest of the money could be used to sign a new CF
Is it good to rate a player who makes more tackles over one who specialises in interceptions? I don’t think so, and Rice would be my choice any day, but I’m reading that West Ham now wants £120 million for him and Edu has lost interest, so at that ridiculous price a good English player is off the menu.
Caicedo has always been the first choice in my opinion for Arsenal, adding Rice too we can never go wrong.
How welcome is an article that preaches reality. I agree with the wrter completely. Rice is out of our financial reach and I HAVE been saying so consistently on JA We will not pay the fee West Ham demand, though other clubs will.
I will not again repeat my own opinion of either player, as it is irrelevant.
What MATTERS is whether or not our club WILL get CAICEDO. As for Rice , I never bought into the hype about him coming to us, for the simple reaon that it will not happen, for financial reasons alone.
Caicedo and Hjulmand…Jus sayin 🤔
I would certainly favour Caicedo who combines, skill, pace and physicality.With age on his side he would represent an excellent long term investment for 70/75m and with Brighton the just might be prepared to consider a player swap in any deal with the likes of Balogun, Nketiah or Nelson .In the case of West Ham, they seem intent on a straight cash deal of around 100m which is way over the top.The problem will arise if MacAllister is sold to Liverpool early in the window as I should imagine Brighton would be very reluctant to lose two quality midfielders.
Arsenal is allergic to big money moves. So forget it; Rice isn’t coming to Arsenal. Even Caicedo might still be too expensive for Arsenal; so, don’t be surprised Arsenal ends up signing non of them.
In another realm, Arsenal needs an outright striker more than a wide player. Jesus can play out wide. So, sign a stiker; Sign Ivan Toney.
It’s strange that Balogun doesn’t want to go on loan. All the noise he made during the break distracted him and affected his performance seriously. You need to stay focused and allow good things to come naturally.
People including the author of this piece going well overboard on the Caicedo hype.He’s done it for how long in the prem? One season.A one season wonder,maybe? The same hysteria over Bissouma.Can’t even get in the spuds side now.People need to calm down.English premium or not Rice is worth his weight in gold.He would be a transformational player for us.
Actually,I think we’re going for both.Knock me out with a feather!
I cannot see us spending £100m on Rice and do not want to haggle with West Ham all sumer. As well as Caicedo, there are other targets that offer better value for money Rueben Neves, Martin Zubamendi, Milinkovic Savic Would all be around half the price.
It will be criminal if Arsenal use their Folarin Balogun as a make weight plus cash to sign Moises Caicedo, Declan Rice or any other new player for that matter next summer. But keep their CF Balogun instead. And not loan him out or sell him in the next summer window.
But will Arsenal go back for the Caicedo’s signing next summer? That’s assuming that they still want him. However, .us will know if they resubmit a bid to Brighton next window to sign him. But his signing by Arsenal should be enhanced if Brighton fail this season to qualify for European football next season
Stan and Josh Kroenke, Arteta, Edu and Venkatesham make the decision on Arsenal transfers especially on the incoming senior team ones. But not us Gooners as us can only agitate for a particular signing to Arsenal to do it
talking of agitation, if Arteta and Edu are very interested to see Arsenal sign one of Caicedo and Rice or both next summer.
But encounter serious financial problems with their parent clubs to suffer delays. And at last not get any one of the pair signed.
Thus. amounting to a waste of time by Arsenal.
Nevertheless, Arteta and Edu should have their plan B and C signing ready in place to sign should West Ham and Brighton disappoint us to pull hairwire on the signing of their players.
In this respect, what of the almost forgotten reported Arsenal’s interest reportedly shown to sign James Maddison at Leicester?
And also of recent last winter window, that of Martin Zubimendi? Have Arsenal lost interest to sign them?
Maddison is majorly AM or CM. We need a DM
Apparently West Ham rate Rice as good as Bellingham, which is plain silly.
If we were offered Bellingham for £120 million we should sign up him immediately.
I will prefer Reben Neves. Good player with a lot of heart. And with Wolves just had a relatively poor season, we can nick him on the cheap too. Problem is, he is older than the two.
Arsenal should go all out for the two of them.As we know they are both Premier League proven and also have the versatility that Arsenal need.Either can play as a 6 or an 8 and Rice can also play as a CB if required.Caicedo can play RB.Whilst the two together will be costly they also negate the need to buy a new RB and /or CB.Saving the Club at least £50m.
Otherwise a Centre Forward who is able to offer something to the team that none of our existing forwards currently can…My wish would be Toney using Eddie or Balogun as a make weight.I realise he will likely be banned until January but he truly has what Arsenal need…A willingness to get stuck in,be nasty and physically bully the opposition defence.If Reiss goes then we need cover on the flank although this player will need to be chosen on the basis that he’s likely to play in rotation behind the likes of Saka,Martinelli and Trossard.