After weeks of wondering, “will they or won’t they?” Arsenal finally did.
The Gunners
announced the signing of Declan Rice from fellow Londoners, West Ham for a
record fee of £105 million on Saturday.
It is the latest
in a series of expensive acquisitions by Arsenal this summer, following similar
and much less expensive outlays for Kai Havertz from Chelsea and Jurrien Timber
from Ajax.
It represents
Arteta’s latest attempts to stock up for what appears another long battle with
Manchester City for the Premier League.
This season is
promising to be one of the most balanced in the competition’s history with a
solid Newcastle looking to kick on from their top four finish in the last
campaign, Chelsea and Tottenham trying to turn things around with new managers
and Liverpool making some major moves in the transfer market.
Arsenal’s
signing of Rice might prove to be the crucial tactic that gets them over the
line this time.
Why did Arsenal pay so much?
The bloated
transfer market
Not everyone’s
convinced by this transfer though. Even some Arsenal fans have raised an
eyebrow at the buying price.
But prior to his
move to the Emirates, Rice was very much sought after in England, and it’s been
known for years that it would take a massive bid to prise him away from East
London.
Manchester City,
usually the big spenders in transfer season, baulked at West Ham’s asking price
while Manchester United’s uncertain ownership situation never really gave them
a chance of making a move.
Chelsea,
long-time admirers of the England midfielder, and his boyhood club, were out of
the running the moment they missed out on a UCL place.
But it might
have been the Blues own actions that priced everyone out of a deal while
forcing the Gunners to break their club transfer record.
The Blues forked
out just under £107 million for 2022 World Cup star, Enzo Fernandez, who,
before Qatar 22, had only played 17 matches for Benfica, had no experience in
the Premier League and was just 22 years old.
West Ham were
adamant, and might have been justified, in demanding at least as much for
24-year-old Rice, a player who had played six senior years in the Premier
League and had risen through the ranks to become captain.
Rice has also
become a mainstay in the England national team and picked up silverware last
season, winning the UEFA Conference League with West Ham, along with the award
for the Player of the Competition.
With Moises
Caicedo also set to be sold by Brighton for massive money this summer, and
transfer fees only scaling further up, this investment by Arsenal might prove
to be a bargain – something that’s hard to perceive when £100 million are
involved – as long as Rice does his job on the pitch.
Why did Arteta
want Rice?
Speaking of
which, what does Rice offer Arsenal? Why didn’t they offer Granit Xhaka more to
convince him to stay? Why did they not pursue cheaper options? Why do they look
comfortable possibly letting Thomas Partey go?
Arsenal’s
interest in Rice sparked comparisons between him and Arsenal’s current
midfield, including Partey, and other similar players around the league.
A few of the
published stats that made their way around football Twitter, suggested that he
was not an upgrade on what Arsenal already had or, at least, not a significant
one.
So why was
Arteta so desperate land this particular signing that the club went above and
beyond to make the deal happen?
Leadership
Arteta has been
quite noticeable altering the makeup of his team over the years. While there’s
been a conspicuous effort to bring in more youthful players, one thing he appears
to consider is the new recruit’s leadership potential.
In recent times
Jorginho, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fabio Vieira joined Arsenal’s ranks having
donned the captain’s armband for club or country and one point – Vieira was
once captain of Portugal’s under-21 side.
The Gunners
faltered under pressure from Man City last season, with the largely
inexperienced team losing their cool right at the end of a grueling title race.
The signings of Kai Havertz – who captained Germany at youth level, was named
vice captain for Germany for the 2022 World Cup and wore the armband at Bayer
Leverkusen as well, Jurrien Timber – who was tipped to be club captain in
future by former Ajax manager, Erik Ten Hag, and now Rice – who left West Ham
as skipper, shows that Arteta is keen to address that deficit ahead of this
season.
“His leadership,
his aura, obviously the experience he already has in this league. He’s going to
bring the team to a different dimension,” the Arsenal manager said when asked
about his new signing.
The blow of
losing Granit Xhaka has been softened a great deal by bringing in Rice; he’ll
be a massive influence in the dressing room.
Defensive attributes
The leadership
role might be important but ultimately, Rice will be judged on how well he does
on the pitch. And for the position he plays, his defensive work-rate will be
under the spotlight. While Arsenal weren’t the most porous side last season,
their soft underbelly was exposed in the really important games. A glance a
Rice’s stats from last season, especially in comparison with the player he is
in line to replace in the squad, Thomas Partey, show a noticeable upgrade.
Rice made more
than double the number of tackles in the defensive third made by Partey (44 to
20), lost fewer challenges (19 to 27), made more blocks (45 to 26), made more
interceptions (63 to 28), completed more clearances (58 to 41) and unlike
Partey, didn’t make a single error leading to an opponent’s shot.
He did all this
while committing fewer fouls as well (23 to 37). Arteta hopes Rice will
replicate this form for Arsenal, especially in the more difficult games against
potential title rivals.
WASHINGTON, DC –
JULY 17: Declan Rice of Arsenal during a training session at the George Mason
University on July 17, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Stuart
MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Greater attacking threat
Thomas Partey
certainly had his moments for Arsenal last season further up the field,
including that stunner against Tottenham. However, there is no doubt that Rice
offers a greater threat going forward. Don’t agree? Well the Englishman led
Partey in goals (4 to 3) and assists (1 to 0) last season, although,
admittedly, not by much.
The former
Hammer also led in progressive carries (88 to 34), shot-creating actions (100
to 71) and completed passes. While the pair seem equally adept in the air,
losing and winning similar numbers of aerial duels, a key quality during
attacking set-pieces, Rice edges ahead with his own ability on those set-pieces
themselves, taking corners, free-kicks and penalties regularly for his former
side.
To be able to
match Man City’s rampaging attack next season, Arsenal need a greater
contribution from its midfield, and signing Rice is definitely a step in that
direction.
Versatility
Arteta is
clearly a fan of players who can feature in multiple roles. Timber can play at
centre-back, right-back and in central midfield. Kai Havertz can play as an 8,
a 10 and a 9. Zinchenko plays primarily as a left-back for Arsenal but moves
into midfield pretty fluidly and can fit in as the left-centre back in a back
three if need be. Gabriel Jesus can led the line, play on either wing or as a
supporting forward.
Rice is notable
for his role as a defensive midfielder but he can also step up the field and
play a bit higher up the pitch. He’s also been known to fill in, very
adequately, at centre-back for both West Ham and England. There were moments
last season where Arteta was forced to use players in odd roles because the
regulars were unavailable. Having yet another player who offers a different
dimension on the pitch and can fill in when needed will be important for
Arsenal.
This will be a
crucial season for Arsenal. The club has great faith in Arteta and backed him
in the transfer market. Missing out on the Premier League title so painfully
last season can go one of two ways; demoralise the losing so much, no one
bothers to try anymore or motivate them to push even more.
Given the
signings that have been made and the sentiment coming from the Emirates, it
appears to be a case of the latter rather than the former for Arteta and his
boys.
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SOURCE: CITINEWSROOM
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