The summer transfer window is right around the corner and despite it not being officially open until Wednesday June 14th, the rumour merry-go-round is already in full flow.
This summer acts as a huge one for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. The Gunners took a massive stride in progress during the 2022/23 campaign, with the new arrivals of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City helping Mikel Arteta’s side mount an unexpected title challenge and finish in second place. Qualifying them for The UEFA Champions league for the first time in seven years.
The added financial and pulling power qualification for the UCL gives allows Arsenal to target some proper players and it’s clear to see that West Ham United captain Declan Rice has been made the club’s number one target for this summer. The midfielder is fresh from captaining West Ham to their first trophy in over 40 years and has continued to get better and better as the years have gone on and the 24 year-old is now considered one of the Premier League’s top midfielders. Because of all this, any deal for the Englishman will certainly beat the £72 million Arsenal paid for Nicolas Pepe in 2019 which currently stands as The Gunners record signing, and it’s entirely possible that it could reach over £100 million.
However, despite the deal for Rice being extremely expensive for any footballer, it’s clear to see why Arsenal and other top clubs such as Manchester United and Bayern Munich aren’t put off by the price set by West Ham for their star man. Rice has developed his overall game significantly in the last two years. Becoming much more confident on the ball and has become on of the best ball carriers in the league, transitioning from a more out-and-out defensive midfielder to a more box-to-box player. Capable of not only successfully winning the ball back and stopping opposition attacks – Rice won the ball back more times than other player in the Premier League last season (334) – but also carrying the ball forwards, beating players and driving his team forwards to create a goalscoring opportunity.
Rice’s ability to play as both a number 6 but also as a more advanced box-to-box style player means that he can fit into both midfield positions which Mikel Arteta will be looking to strengthen. Thomas Partey is Arsenal’s main defensive midfielder as it stands and despite a poor end, the Ghanian had a strong camptain last season. And with a return to Germany for Granit Xhaka looking imminent, Rice would fit straight into the left-sided eight position in Arteta’s midfield with ease, however the Englishman’s versatility helps to not rule out a deal for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo or Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan. Rice can also fill in as a centre-back if necessary which will be great for Mikel Arteta as William Saliba’s injury and the subsequent drop-off towards the end of the previous season showed a lack of quality depth in that area.
Declan Rice ticks pretty much every box which Arteta will want in a marquee midfield signing. He’s versitile, physical, technically quality, strong in the tackle and despite not scoring as many goals as the departing Granit Xhaka last season, Rice has a firece strike on him from distance and has also shown he can make runs into the box and score that way. Something which Mikel Arteta will clearly want as that has been so key to Granit Xhaka’s individual success in recent months. Rice’s leadership qualities and experience in both European football and the Premier League as well as his ability both on and off the ball in the midfield means he has the potential to grow and develop into one of the most complete midfielders in world football. And with the progress Arsenal are making under Mikel Arteta and his young team, there can’t be many better places for someone like Rice to spend the best years of what is promised to be a stellar career at both club and international level.
£100 million is a lot of money for any footballer. However with Rice seemingly ticking every box Arteta wants, it’s hard to see why Arsenal shouldn’t break their club record for a transfer to bring the West Ham United captain to North London.