How Declan Rice will TRANSFORM Arsenal - Arteta

Stuart Telford

• 18 Jul 2023 10:15 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal have completed the £105 million signing of Declan Rice from West Ham - a club record fee, but one that Mikel Arteta thinks is worth every penny.

Rice was in high demand this summer, the England international midfielder captaining the Hammers to UEFA Conference League glory but otherwise embroiled in a relegation dogfight domestically.

One of the first names on Gareth Southgate's England teamsheet, Chelsea had previously expressed interest in bringing their former academy player back to Stamford Bridge, while Manchester City also made a late bid for his services.

READ: 'I f***ing begged Rice to join Arsenal'

But Arsenal won out, and although some fans still have doubts about the player - especially given the outlay to acquire him - Arteta could hardly be more confident.

"It's his leadership, his aura, the experience he already has in the league," he explained on Arsenal's pre-season tour of the USA. "He's going to bring the team to a different dimension I think.

Rice 'like a lighthouse'

"I see him like a lighthouse, that he's willing to put light in others and improve others and make the team better and that's a huge quality.

"He has the physical qualities we were missing for a while as well. That's why we had to do what we had to do."

READ: Wenger makes BOLD Arsenal statement after summer spending spree

Arteta looks set to build his midfield around Rice, and has already sanctioned the €25m sale of Granit Xhaka to Bayer Leverkusen, with Thomas Partey set to follow him out of the Emirates exit for Saudi Arabia if not Juventus.

Rice was in the 95th percentile league-wide for interceptions last season, and also averaged nearly seven progressive passes per game.

Arsenal have been the biggest spenders in world football this summer, also paying Chelsea a potential £71m for Kai Havertz and Ajax €40m for Jurrien Timber.

The Gunners will play an MLS All-Stars side in Washington DC on Thursday, while also facing Manchester United and Barcelona in the USA.