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.
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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