Is Declan Rice worth 105 million? NO.
That though is a debate football has had for years now. Fees and wages are not rational and cannot be justified.
The only way the 24 year old will get close to justifying his asking price is by helping us end our two-decade trophy drought.
Whether you think he’s overpriced, that we should have looked at cheaper alternatives, or if you think the midfielder can be the face of a new look Arsenal, this will be a historic transaction for the club.
The moment we woke up.
Instead of peering into the glass window watching with envy, we now dine at the same table of Europe’s finest, not shy to have our voices heard and carrying ourselves like we belong.
No longer are we at the back of the queue accepting scraps left over, we are at the front of the line only interested in the best.
We are not asking anymore; we are telling the world that we are serious about our intentions.
No longer the poor relations in London counting their money in the bank, no longer only having a starter while everyone has dessert.
Our manager once said, ‘when Arsenal knock, it’s a different kind of knock’. We knocked, rang the doorbell and kicked it down, not to be denied.
We didn’t ask, we insisted.
We flexed our muscles and turned heads.
A market that used to hold us back, is now a hurdle we have jumped over.
No more asking for favours, begging our best talent to stay for one more year, now the best talent come to us.
The days of preaching to captains because North London is a great place to play, now we woo individuals and sell the project to them.
No longer begging people to be the face, people begging us for the privilege.
A badge that means something again, that you can wear with pride.
A manager not wanting to play it safe, not wanting to settle for ‘only top 4’, not calling 5th progress.
A coach who stresses that The Gunners should only be judged on the highest of standards, bravely putting his job on the line by setting the bar so high.
Convincing his bosses to shoot for the stars because by even trying, your worst case is you land on the moon.
A club trying to catch a dream again, when for years we were chasing illusions.
Man, City got out their wallet but this time we too were wearing our finest suit and shiniest shoes.
Because while at the Etihad greats become heroes, West Ham skipper knows at the Emirates heroes become legends.
A signing that allows Gooners to dream of unicorns and believe in fairy tales.
It gives us something bigger than trophies ……… gives us hope.
Arsenal are back…. back as a major force in European Football
Dan
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In my opinion, it’s a sign that Arsenal have chosen their future captain and poster boy to represent the club on/ off the field for at least five years
I believe our future team will be built around him, if he doesn’t move to another club three years later. I’m sure Arteta can find the best role for Rice
Do you think he’ll displace Odegaard as captain? They’re about the same age and Martin seems likely to stay a few years yet.
Perhaps vice-captain with Xhaka leaving.
He would need at least a year or two with the club before captain could be considered. once he settles in the team and learns the arsenal DNA he would be a contender although it would be harsh on MO who is doing a great job in the role.
Very good point Jax. It would be a snub to Odegaard right now
I think Odegaard will eventually move to another club four or five years later, because he won’t be able to press high up the pitch forever
On the other hand, Rice doesn’t have to do the taxing high-pressing job, because he just needs to sit in our deep-midfield area
Rice could have a longer career as Busquets had at Barcelona, due to his position
Have you been watching braveheart recently? Love the passion in this. Arsenal may come knocking for a new club ambassador. Still to many negative comments around, more of this.
Cheers mate
Do we see DC as our future club captain? What is the bar arsenal fans would accept to see the signing as a success and worth the money. Being part of a silverware winning team? Goals and assists toward double figures? I can’t see MO being replaced as club captain for this season.
‘No longer are we at the back of the queue accepting craps left over, we are at the front of the line only intrested in the best’
We have made an enormous leap ,now players like Tchouameni is not a fantasy.
I like this line.
‘Man city got out their wallet but this time we too were wearing our finest suit and shiniest shoes.
Pessimists who hides behind claiming they are realist, will get the message,
Believe it or not Arsenal is back.
Salute
Greco
Big up, I love Captain Odegaard even the name sounds nice, but am wondering how many eagles eyes fans realize it is Xhaka the unofficial captain who run things in the middle of the park.
Anyone remember Arsenal vs Southampton that famous 3 : 3 draw where the relegated side held us while Lavia overrun us with his all action play ?
This teach us too Havertz and Odegaard cannot play in a deep laying three.?
All this was done in the absence of Xhaka.
Cheers
Dan
What a good piece
Had me drifting away in neverland for a few moments
For now it Feels like fine dinning rather then fast food
Loved the piece 👌
Dan, an article full of rhetoric, that misses out one thing – the Kronkies ownership and backing.
I know you have vilified them in the past, but without their incredible backing, none of what you say would have been possible and that has been the case since Mikel Arteta arrived at the club.
Over £500,000,000 will have been spent and yet this doesn’t seem to be recognised in your article – shame!!
If Declan Rice and Havertz help us to the PL title and, as a minimum, the knockout stages of the CL, that will pay back their transfer fees anyway.
With Latvia and Timber also being touted as well, we have never seen such backing… Long may it last!!
Just concerned that, as far as I’m aware, Saliba has still not signed his contract and the same goes for Rice of course.
Ken, how do they spend that much and stay within FFP regulations? I know Abramovich used to loan millions to Chelsea, but I think that was outlawed, so how do we manage it, as we don’t seem to make very much in transfer fees ourselves, and although CL money & finishing 2nd helps somewhat, it still seems a huge amount to account for.
Jax, add in the £75m a year sponsorship from Adidas, the £45m a year shirt sponsorship from Emirates and I think you have your answer.
Regardless, MA and Edu better start learning to sell players and stop devaluing players they don’t want!
I’d love to see a list of total revenue from player sales over the past 5 years for all clubs
Don’t forget Jax, that figure will be over MA’s time as manager.
Before then, both AW and UE were running the club in a “self sufficient” mode.
Like anything that is for sale, a player is only worth what the buyer is willing to pay.
Low wage bill. We’ve been paying out over 100 mil a year less than our rivals (outside Spurs) for the last few years with CL back we have a lot of flex financially this window due to this low wage bill. With new contracts and Rice, I would expect the gap between us and the other 4 big spenders to lower this year. There will also undoubtedly be bonus clauses with sponsors for getting CL football.
Interestingly despite still having the 5th most expensive squad in the league, our squad value is currently 1st on estimations due to the young age/long contracts/performance last year of our team.
I villfied them in the past mate when they took my club from title contenders – to only top 4- to 8th
when they sold our best players and didn’t reinvest that money
our 20 year title drought
and of course the ….Super League
not going to say well done for finally running a club how they should have been since they first had power on the board
if I didn’t do my job correct for 10 years and the company was failing im not exspecting a well done the moment I start doing things correct
But nows the time to recognise his input Dan.
I have agreed with you in the past regarding Silent Stan, but that was then and this is today – as your article perfectly describes.
The reason we are back, is because of his, or to be more accurate, his son’s commitment to the club and MA.
Not knocking the article in any way, just pointing out that without the money invested by Kronkie, you wouldn’t have been able to write it.. correct?
Dan has not answered your last word pertinent question KEN, so I will answer it and say, “thats right!”
Yeah I got no problem saying well done
Like last season I held my hands up and said good season mate
Arteta seems to gained the confidence of the owners and the majority of our fanbase. The owners seem to have trust and faith in him after the way he had transformed our club back to being taken seriously.
Now he has to deliver the big trophies soon..
think I also heard that from like 2018, we have reduced wage bill by like 200 million
It doesn’t matter who we buy. Until MA gets his tactics and man/team management right, we’re always gonna fall short. Here’s me waiting another season for him to do so. So excuse me, if I’m not all chuffed about our latest acquisitions. Just sayin…
👍
The question on whether Declan Rice has been overpriced is a difficult one to actually answer. Because the answer is both yes and no. Fundamentally, every team that has aspirations of success needs players who are prepared to do the work that doesn’t YT highlight reels.
Would Leicester have won the EPL without Vardy and Mahrez’s goals? No. Would they have won the EPL without Kante’s incredible stamina and defensive work? Also no.
We have Saka, Martinelli, Odegaard. We have goals. What we have lacked since the days of Gilberto Silva is someone who will enable the flashy players to do their thing. That’s what we are paying for. We are paying for the engine and defensive grit to support both the defence and the attack.
Man Utd 1999 Roy Keane. Barcelona 2009 Sergio Busquets. Real Madrid 2021 Casemiro. Man City 2023 Rodri. Every dominant team from the last 25 years has had a midfield linchpin that links the whole team together.
This Arsenal team may not reach the giddy heights of the aforementioned, but if you don’t get the right players it will NEVER happen, so plaudits to Arteta and Edu for having the courage to pursue the right targets and in doing so put their heads on the block. Spending this sort of money comes with consequences if you don’t back it up with success and that takes guys and deserves credit.
The 5 real deals who will commandingly see Arsenal a top of the Epl table at the end of next season’s summer campaign. And performing miracle campaigns in the 2 domestic Cup games. And in Ucl matches outstandingly . All going in to the next winter campaign. Are in my own takes Harvestz already signed, Timber and Rice all about being signed. Lavia who should be signed too by Arsenal this summer. As well as Tchouameni on loan first and make permanent next season.
Why would we need or want Rice, Lavia and Tchouameni?
Because we might be losing both Xhdka and Partey.
I think we should absolutely offload both of them. If we are able to secure Tchouameni on loan, I think that would be an amazing piece of business. Lavia for £40M? I’m not sure. He was the primary defensive option for the club that finished bottom of the league and he has JWP for company. I’m sure he would be excellent cover but that’s a lot of money for a young lad with 1 good season in a terrible team.
Sorry to have to say DAN , that forsome reason- perhaps because you finaly ran out of new things to say – that you repeted the same thought over and over again in many rhetorical sentences, all saying , essentially the same thing.
Not that I disagree with your optimism, because I dont.
But perhaps you have mastered the art of writing pessimism for so long , that optimism has tripped you up and turned you into the BBC – FULL OF REPEATS.
Apart from yesterday writing about our loan policy ?
The day before writing about Havertz ?
The week before covering Zichvenkho interview with Mr Morgan , last week commenting on Smith Rowe’s at the Euros
A top 10 article of players who changed position, an article on Pepe , Maitland Niles , the release of Matt Smith
Seem different topics to me ?
Oh and the Xhaka and Partey article
So just 7 articles In last two weeks that are different
Good try though
What did you call Xhaka when we beat Palace Jon lol
I think Arsenal really went for Rice because he will be the deputy club captain in the near future. Dislodging Martin Odegaard as captain will be a huge order. A definite England captain and a national hero, Declan Rice have the potential to overtake our former captain, the legendary Patrick Vieira.
A nice article. A £100M signing (whether overvalued or not) is a BIG statement! It means we mean business next season, Champions League and Premier League. I am particularly excited about Jurrien Timber, he will give us the much needed cover for our wingbacks. Can’t wait for next season!
Cheers mate
An article to the point although Rice is still not officially signed. Arsenal have made a statement of intent and the signs are that we aim for the best and want to be the best, nothing less. We are Arsenal and we are back.