ESPN pundit Don Hutchison has expressed his opinion on Declan Rice’s potential move to Arsenal this summer, suggesting that it could be a risky decision for the English midfielder.
While Arsenal has shown progress under manager Mikel Arteta and secured a place in the Champions League for the upcoming season, it should be remembered that they have been absent from the competition since 2017 and did not participate last season.
Although the Gunners will be eager to make an impact in Europe’s premier club competition upon their return, it does not automatically guarantee their status among the top teams in England. Hutchison suggests that Arsenal may face challenges in their quest to secure a top-four finish in the league next season.
His remarks imply that Rice’s decision to join Arsenal could be seen as taking a gamble, considering the club’s recent struggles to consistently compete at the highest level domestically.
Speaking about the move, Hutchison told ESPN:
“I think Arsenal is a bit of a gamble [for Rice].
“I am not sure if they finish top four next season. We have to wait and see what they do.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
Rice has watched us play in this campaign and can see we are working hard to keep the team competitive with the best players we can get.
The midfielder will be full of confidence that Arsenal is back among the big boys in the country and he can help us maintain our position in the top four for several seasons.
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Rice is a scam and overrated guy. It would be a huge risk for Arsenal to sign him for anything over 50m.
Then PRESUMABLY, a “scam” that costs just under 50 mill would have your blessing?
What a silly and meaningless post with a LUDICROUS misuse of the word “scam”!!
IF Arsenal were asked to pay , say, £200mill for Rice and then CHOSE to pay it, it would NOT be a scam.
A misjudgement certainly, but NOT a scam!
His comment is stupid. He hates Arsenal to his bone. He played for Everton but loves Liverpool so much. Liverpool was out of the CL for years til Klopp came.
Last year he predicted Arsenal won’t qualify for CL and here we are.
Don who!
Never heard of this ESPN pundit but I’d say Arsenal would be the one taking a big risk to fork out more that 50M for any player, including Rice who’s overrated and overpriced. We also need reinforcements in the backfield and striker positions and have to spend wisely.
Last year was a fluke with Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham all underperforming big time.
Making top 4 will be exponentially harder for Arsenal.
Who did better except for City ?
Some, doesn’t believe that arsenal have come back to their best form, in fact this is just the beginning. They are going step by step. Don’t be surprised if they win the treble next season
At first where has rice came from is a champions league material! so Don Hutchison stop saying it’s a risk infarct based on history for rice it’s an upgrade to give him an opportunity to play in champions league for his first time.
Don Hutchinson was among the dyed- in-the-wool pessimists about Arsenal’ rejuvenation in the last 2022/23 Season. When Arsenal started winning, they consoled themselves that Arsenal began with not-so-strong teams. When Arsenal beat Man U, Tottenham, Liverpool, and Chelsea -teams in the top4 – they again ‘campaigned’ that Arsenal will not lift the PL trophy. Yes, Hotchison and his group won. But we won overall to not only get into the top4 but seated 2nd below Manchester City with 5 points lower after leading the League for nearly 300 days. If justice is done to our wishlist of players, Hotchison and his blind distractors will again hide their faces in shame. The distractors cannot see our steady improvement because they are blind and disturbed by the inevitable transition in Arsenal to the next level.