Walker heaps praise on 'MASSIVE' Arsenal transfer

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 25 Mar 2024 13:10 GMT
• 3 min read

Kyle Walker believes that Declan Rice’s summer move to Arsenal has improved England’s chances of European Championship glory this summer.

Rice, 25, left West Ham United to join the Gunners for €116.6 million in 2023 and he has immediately become one of Mikel Arteta’s most important players.

The England midfielder has made 39 appearances in all competitions this season, registering six goals and seven assists, and Kai Havertz’s recent move to centre forward has allowed him to advance into a number eight role after starting the season as a number six.

Manchester City are locked in a title battle with the Gunners and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, but Walker has admitted that Rice’s Arsenal move has been “massive” for England.

READ MORE: Arsenal attempt Fabregas repeat as Arteta scouts Spanish wonderkid

What has Kyle Walker said?

Walker appeared on Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with Five podcast and spoke about England’s use of Phil Foden before moving onto Rice’s role in the team.

“I like him [Foden] in the middle, I do like him in the middle, No.10,” Walker said. “Especially how I think he could benefit England with B [Bukayo Saka].

“Declan being at Arsenal now is massive,” the Man City star continued.

READ MORE: Gyokeres vs Havertz - Sporting goal machine faces SHOCK challenge to become Arsenal's No.9

“I’m not saying he wasn’t a very good player at West Ham but knowing how [to play] possession-based football [is key].

“I think we got to certain phases, especially in Russia when [Kieran] Trippier scored and then in the Euros when Luke [Shaw] scored, we scored too early and didn't control the game.

“Where now I feel, especially in the last two fixtures [before Brazil friendly], we scored, we were winning, and we played in their half still.

“Before it was, we scored against Croatia in Russia and they just ran over us with experience. And against Italy it was, ‘right, just hang on and pray’.

“But once you get that many corners and that many good attacks with international players. If you don’t do that process, if you start making it a transitional game, flip a coin and see what happens.”