Declan Rice a £105 million 'bargain' says Arsenal legend

Stuart Telford

• 16 Oct 2023 20:42 BST
• 3 min read

Declan Rice has made such a quick impact at Arsenal that former Gunners striker Kevin Campbell thinks the club record £105 million paid for his services already looks like a bargain.

Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham this summer as part of a comprehensive mission to bolster Mikel Arteta's squad, who finished as runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League last season.

Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya have also arrived, from Chelsea, Ajax and Brentford respectively, with Havertz taking 10 competitive games to open his account and Timber injured inside an hour of his debut against Nottingham Forest.

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Raya has impressed in goal, with his arrival leading to speculation that Aaron Ramsdale could now leave the club, but Rice has been the undisputed success story so far, with his assured performances at the base of Arsenal's midfield.

'Price tag nothing' to Rice

"A bargain £105 million midfielder," Campbell, an English champion with Arsenal in 1991, told Football's Twelfth Man Podcast. "He's come in and looked like he has been at the club for 10 years. He has come in and just adapted. Adapted to the fanbase.

"The price tag to him is nothing. He just plays his game and his attributes just suit what we do."

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Arteta has generally played a 4-3-3 this season with Rice joined in midfield by Martin Odegaard and Havertz, with those two given greater license to get forward, but Campbell would like to see him used in a double pivot with Thomas Partey.

"We haven't seen him enough besides Thomas Partey yet," Campbell said. "But I think when those two play a number of games together they are just going to get better and better and better."

Partey was linked with summer moves to Juventus and the Saudi Pro League, but decided to stay and fight for his place, but has been used as a hybrid right-back more often than not since.