Arsenal currently has two primary midfield targets in their sights: Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo. The Gunners aim to strengthen their squad following their relative success this season.
During the winter transfer window, Arsenal came close to securing the signing of Caicedo. However, Brighton opted not to sell the player mid-season, and Arsenal respected their decision.
Since then, Caicedo has shown improvement, and Arsenal’s top priority for the summer is Rice, who is set to leave West Ham in search of a move to a Champions League club.
However, the Gunners may face a dilemma in choosing between the two midfielders, and fans are divided over who would be the better addition to their squad.
Jay Bothroyd is not; he believes the best for Arsenal is Caicedo. He says to Four Four Two:
“Coming in is a strange one, Arsenal’s problem is their depth. They don’t have the spending power that Chelsea or City have. A lot of talk has been about Declan Rice joining Arsenal this year, as much as I think he’s a top midfield player, I have to go with numbers, next year in the Champions League there are more games, the players I would like to see come in.
“I would like Caicedo from Brighton, he’s similar to Declan, but he can play right-back as well and that’s a problem for Arsenal because Ben White has been playing there and I see him as more of a centre-back.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
Caicedo is an amazing player and has developed very well in a Brighton team that seems to get better in every game.
He would move to the Emirates as a superb midfielder who has also been tasked to play as a right-back and did well, but Rice is just as good.
The solution to this dilemma might be to sign both players in the same transfer window.
Brighton manager has said its probably caicedo last game so that suggests there is a deal with another club in the pipeline hopefully it’s Arsenal be a great signing get rice as well and will have top quality midfield for next season add another 3 signings would be the dream transfer window!
Any two of the following six players would improve Arsenal. Caicedo, Rice, Bellingham, Maddison, McAllistair, Kim Min-iae. Any two would add the much needed defensive steel and more importantly, the energy levels Arsenal was missing towards the end of the season, before the Wolves game. Both Caicedo and Rice are equally good, so it would boil down to long ball pass percentages and opposition half pass percentage, this would decide who will fit Arsenals game play the most.
Daveg – please not Maddison ! I’m repeating myself now. Maddison, imo, is a show pony who will let you down when you need him most. He has talent but he’s not consistent enough and too much in love with his own self. Leicester should not have been relegated this season with some of the players they have (he being one of their better ones). Their players, including Maddison need to take a long hard look at themselves. We need dependable players and I don’t think he is one. Just my opinion.
If we are to challenge Man city and other top clubs for premier league title. then Arsenal are supposed to sign both Rice, Caicedo and Bellingham such that we shall squad dept. and rotatable team as well.
Much as I admire Maddison, can we afford to play him and Odegaard in the same team?When you talk about defensive steel, I assume you are referring to Rice and Caicedo as none of the others you mention are strong defensively.If we can only afford one, then I would go for Caicedo.
I could see there being quite a few games where Madison and odegaard could play together – sometimes it’s best to blow the opposition away with attacking talent (I think that was the hope when Vieira was picked in a couple of games this year) – but for the tougher fixtures, including most away games, I’d suggest it’s more important to have the kind of defensive balance we had with odegaard and xhaka for most of this season. It really depends how tactically aware Madison is – and I don’t know his game that well tbh
Caicedo and Rice are strong midfield players. However I prefer Rice because he has height as an advantage.
If we are to challenge Man city and other top clubs for premier league title. then Arsenal are supposed to sign both Rice, Caicedo and Bellingham such that we shall have squad dept. and rotatable team as well.
Caicedo should be our priority signing imo. Perfect xhaka replacement, and his versatility is a bonus.
If we sign him, I don’t think there’s necessarily room for rice as well, unless the thinking is to play them together in midfield and use partey (or caicedo tbf) more often in this unorthodox RB role
If we sign Maddison it wil be as an attacking midfielder in an inverted rightback setup. This would balance the team because when the inverted rightback shifts into the midfield then your defensive midfielder on the right go forward simmilar to what Xhaka does in the inverted leftback setup. This means our CREATIVE ATTACKING MIDFIELDER will orchestrate from the middle left channel. Odegaardt will thus be rested if needed.
Another option would be to use Vieira or EsR in this position. This is more likely as was seen this weekend when EsR replaced Odegaardt & how Viera was used throughout the campaign.
If we really want to be the Arsenal that of then that challenges for titles I think we should sign both Caicedo and Rice and then let Jorginho leave. Then get a new right back bcos White is more of a center back.
see below
Chris – I’m not sure if White is necessarily a better CB than RB. Personally, I think he did well most of the time at RB, often interlinking with Saka on the wing. Actually I think their’s was the best combo this season, as many goals came from the play of that duo. Would be great if we could get Caicedo AND Rice but I have a feeling we will have done well to even get one of them.
Jorginho and Partey will still be good to have around, but can we afford to keep all of them ?
Agree with you on White – he’s a good CB, but he was fantastic this season at RB. His impact on our attack was extremely important, as you say, and he was pretty solid defensively. At CB, I think he’s good, but behind both saliba or Gabriel. Better backup option than holding, for sure, but it would be a waste to use him that way.
Davi do you know what’s happened to IGL ?
Sorry, Ev, I’m not sure what IGL means?
Indian Gunner London – I don’t know, but he’s replied to me this morning?
I personally think Arsenal should either get one of the two being Rice or Caicedo
My second option would be to get their long term option Youri Tielemans ,he is a no brainer and can attack.
He is under estimated ,can be a great transfer for the gunners just a thought.
To lose xhaka is catastrophic
Rice may be a preference but I think caicedo will be financially more attractive which will leave Arsenal with bit more money to strengthen other areas as well.
Rice’s buying cost & wages will be higher compared to any other similar MF who is not English player. Unfortunately this is the situation though I prefer Rice
Caicedo is good but i have thought him not great. Rice is top quality and is more what we need. He bring more qualities tthat AFC need. Problem for me is, i see him as a captain as well.
Yes getting both would be wonderful, also getting a top class striker to alternate with Jesus.
Party is old, Jorginho was signed as back up. Signing both Rice and Caicedo/Cancelo is the real deal.