Is Declan Rice Arsenal’s best signing in years?
Last night we got to see Declan Rice wear the captain’s armband for England in what would have been a momentous achievement for the midfielder. Picking up his 50th cap for England against Belgium is massive not only for the player himself and his country but for Arsenal as well.
Rice has had a great career so far and being the star boy of West Ham for so long didn’t go unnoticed but when he signed for Arsenal I don’t think anyone realised how good he would actually be for the club. Having such a big price tag on his head was a bit worrying and for himself, the pressure would and has been on his shoulders but he’s dealt with it perfectly and has managed to settle into this Arteta system and Arsenal team better and faster than I’ve seen anyone do so in years.
It’s a lot to say but I think without him we wouldn’t be where were at right now and his signing has changed the way we’ve played and progressed through the season. When you look back to this time last season, we were beginning to struggle and needed someone in the middle of the pitch who had the type of skill and compose that Rice has.
He always seems like he’s got time and space to create and move the ball around and almost makes what he does look effortless. Captaining England is just another notch on his every growing belt and I can only see him getting better and better the more he plays at a club like Arsenal.
Rice is one of those players who could change the whole dynamic of a team for the better and with the right support, team mates and manager behind him, he looks unstoppable. It takes a lot for a player to cost as much as he did and not get criticized for it. There’s always media trying to create stories and bring players down but with Rice, we haven’t really seen any of that and that’s because he’s been worth every penny spent on him.
He will hopefully continue to grow and stay at the club for a long time, he seems to be a very loyal player and once he sinks his teeth into a club, doesn’t look likely to leave quickly. He could create a proper legacy at Arsenal and become one of the greats to ever play for the club. If we win the title this season, I think a lot of the credit has to go to him and how he’s been able to just jump straight into things and make himself and his squad better by just being around someone like him.
When asked about the his 50 caps for England by Ex-England midfield legend Frank Lampard after being gifted some special boots for the occasion Rice said this: “It is a massive achievement for me to reach this milestone. Those close to me, know how much playing for my country means, so to hit 50 caps is incredible. I am excited to wear my new boots on the field to celebrate the moment.”
What’s your thoughts Gooners?
Daisy Mae
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Best ever signing ?
Not even close
The title of the article refers to Arteta, although I’m not sure there is a mention of several generations of signings in the article itself
On the basis that we are discussing the Arteta era, I’d say Rice is a definite contender. However, Odegaard is one heck of a signing and many of the others are components in what is a very good squad indeed
Got that wrong
Misread Arsenal and Arteta, however, both Odegaard and Rice offer so much more to Arsenal than just what we see on the pitch
I more meant the price tag Sue
A great signing to me is like value for money
For example an Odegarrd
Agree on that Dan
He took a little while to show his worth but his transfer fee was a snip. I suppose that MO showed promise, whereas Rice was a known quantity – hence the price tag.
I think Vieira was a similar priced player to Odegaard which shows what a gulf in class there is. I’m not sure he can close the gap.
Ask again in 8 years
Best signing this season definitely and probably Artetas best since he’s been manager ,but you would expect that for the price paid .
Yeah I agree
I love Rice but he was over 100 million
For that you should do good lol
I do think our fans have been too over the top with Declan Rice praise.
Good player but the catchphrases have been too over the top.
No , not best ever ! Best for some time for sure!. But BERGKAMP, HENRY AND MANY MORE GOING BACK MANY DECADES BEFORE THOSE TWO AS WELL. Eddie Hapgood, Alex James, Cliff(boy) Bastin, Ted Drake, Ronnie Rooke who came from Fulham and whose goals saved us from relegation in the late forties.
Many, even most ,apart from older fans, will not even KNOW THOSE NAMES!
Rice has not been here even a whole season yet, so lets see what happens down the line and in years to come. It MAY,just MAY, be that one day, he will be the best ever. .
But right now? Oh, do me a favour!
Err
The headline clearly says ARTETA’S best ever not Arsenal’s….
Pat, That is of course TRUE.
Stupidly, I failed to notice that .So apologies to all who read my post.
Therefore I will correct my post as follows: Right now, IMO our best player who has PLAYED under him is SALIBA, followed by SAKA, ODEGAARD AND RICE.
But, I think SALIBA was our player before MA came , so from his signings,as the best, I WOULD go for Odegaard, with Rice next (assuming SALIBA was here already, which I OUGHT to know but plainly do not, for certain).
My view is that time spent here, while doing the business on the pitch, favours those here longer than less than one season.
so after all the nonsense and shouting your vote is Odegaard right?
if so, yes I think that has merit, Odegaard has been integral in turning Arsenal around, filled a leadership vacuum as captain, and continues to evolve as a key member of our new high pres box midfield
and all for £35m(ish)
so in terms of best signing value for money must come in to it, and at £35m Odegaard is the bargain of the century
but Arteta turned that Real Madrid promise in to Arsenal reality, that can’t be over looked
Excuse me, but why do you say I am shouting?
As I have posted countless times before, I use capitals for EMPHASIS ONLY
Which is itself a very different thing than shouting!
AdPat
One headline says Arteta (the photo) and another below says Arsenal
That’s why we are confused 😬
It’s expected for that price. I think we would have seen the same level performance from Rice had he gone to Liverpool or City.
In my own opinion odeegard is the best Arteta’s signing
Saliba was signed by The Arsenal while UE was our coach, so he doesn’t count.
A little history regarding Saliba – he asked Guendouzi about the club, after finding out our club was interested in him.
Guendouzi told him to join.
At the time, the spuds were also wanting to sign him and the reason he chose our club?
He had been watching The Arsenal playing in the CL as he grew up and when fellow French an Arsene Wenger was our manager and looked into the history of the club!!
Merci Arsene!!
So that narrows the field and for me, it has to Raya!!
Why? Because it shows the mindset of our manager and how he doesn’t accept any level as being the best – if, of course, we actually sign Raya permanently.
Yes I thought that was so Ken, but was nor entirely sure.
An interesting choice you make of RAYA.
One reason I do not consider a one season only player, is that until he has proven his effectiveness over a LONGER time , say three to four years ideally, it seems a hasty and possibly wrong choice, IF THEN he lost form. Not saying RAYA IS, OR RICE, but we all see one season wonders who fail to last the course.
Strange choice Ken mate ,obviously yours to give but is he even better than Ramsdale who Arteta signed also .
For me he’s been helped having the best 2 defenders and dm midfielder in front of him .
Out the 2 Ramsdale still ,but overall plenty of players ahead of both .
DK, it was easy to say Odegaard or Rice, so I went for Raya as he encompasses the thoughts of MA.
I’m still hoping thar Ramsdale will fight him for the No. 1 position next season – but WHO would have thought he would have lost it in the first place and not get it back?
Ken Without mentioning the two you have given in you’re first sentence,which I agreed with up top in my own post
Gabriel Magalhães
Partey
Ben white
Willian 😉
Personally I dont see how Rayas been anywhere near Artetas best signing ,but like I always say opinions differ from fan to fan but still ……🫡
You mean we can agree to disagree without calling each other names?!?!
I think we can mate ,well at least some of us can 😉
It got to be the Englishman, Declan Rice, but fans probably won’t realize it until he’s not playing, we have been down this road with Xhaka.
ironically by the end of the season it could be Havertz, turn back the clock can you imagine
but if Arsenal lift serious silverware there could be a fair chance Havertz has had a big hand to play in that
it just seems we could at last have a ‘big game player’ capable at those crucial moments to make that crucial difference
arguably Ozil and Auba could and should have been that big match and season turning player, but in reality they were the opposite
we could have our own x-factor winner – i hope so
That’s a good shout – havertz has made a big difference. X-factor is definitely an apt term for him
Aubameyang single handedly won us the FA Cup. He along with Leno carried us in two successive seasons which were worst in recent memory. Without them probably we would have been closer to relegation.
umm, yeah
so back to reality and 2024, Arsenal as a team and club are transformed in to genuine title contenders
the like of Auba will not be wearing the shirt again any time soon and Arsenal are much the better for it
Odegaard for me. Especially considering the price tag. Odegaard has also been here longer-as much as Rice has been phenomenal for us,what he’s done doesn’t eclipse Odegaard’s contributions since he signed for Arsenal.
Odegard and G Magalhaes
It’s too early to say, really, but in all likelihood, yes, rice has been arteta’s best signing. Odegaard is great now, but it did take him a loan (which probably cost us something on top of his final transfer fee?) and a full season to really get going – there were question marks around him for about 2 years. Rice, on the other hand, has hit the ground running (as you’d expect, but so what?).
There are players who brought Arsenal to this level playing with an average squad than an expensive player surrounded by quality. Consider that guys.
Martin, who else?
Odegaard easily… Rice a very close second