Declan Rice | Arsenal £105m player

[cesc's_mullet]

Rice could have an amazing season/one of the better players in the squad that is not followed by the others & fans of other clubs will be laughing every chance they get to call him Arsenal’s Maguire.

I can’t see Rice flopping at Arsenal - but I’m unsure if Arteta and Arsenal as a whole club can live up to the expectations of a 200-250 mil transfer window aswell.

Let’s see how it pans out.

What are the realistic expectations? Who are your favourites to win everything again next season? City is the only reasonable answer.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

He hasn’t shown any kind of quality for 18 months now.
I think fans are talking themselves into rating Rice rather than seeing what he is as a player.
For all of the 100m hype, he is a West Ham player making a huge step up.

What are you on about?

 

[cesc's_mullet]

What, kinda like us and Maguire?

You shut your dirty mouth.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

How can you be spending as much as us, when we're twice as big commercially and your lot finished 8th and 6th?

FFP!

We were able to move on all of the older players that were on mega wages, and it seems the Kreonke's have bought into Arteta and Edu's vision completely.

I doubt we'll be spending huge after this season (as in three big signings), our squad is pretty fleshed out now.

 

[Hammondo]

Rice has been Arteta's primary target for a long time, we have been working on this deal behind the scenes for months. Yes you could argue Tonali or whoever may be a better deal, but Arteta's man has always be Rice. David Ornstein apparently said that Rice is central to Arteta's plans moving forward and that other transfer targets are highly dependent on his addition. So it seems Arteta really only had eyes for Rice.
We overpaid I don't think anyone can argue otherwise, but we're actually getting our primary targets. If we were the Arsenal of 2-3 years ago, no way one of the most sought-after players in the PL would come to us.

Fair enough.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

A promising talent who decided to be a loser. Liverpool or Chelsea would have been a better option. His career

Since United last won the PL title back in 12/13 they have won: 1x FA Cups, 1x Europa League and 2x EFL Cups.

In that same period Arsenal have won 4x FA Cups.

Both sides have been as bad or as good as each other in terms of winning trophies. Does this mean anyone that signs for United has decided to be a loser too?

 

[Hammondo]

Are you seriously arguing Rice may not be able to perform at Xhaka's level?

I mean I get the doubts about him performing at the level expected for a 100M signing, which I don't think he will, but he's way better than Xhaka.

Well he has not so far, and you cannot be sure of anything. Xhaka had an amazing season last season.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

Arsenal fans spent the whole of last season talking about how great Partey was, ‘best DM in the league’ etc. so I’m not quite sure what I’m meant to make of this Rice signing, how is he better than the guy they swore was the best. . .

Who has said he's better than Partey?

I think they can play together. Though maybe Partey will want to take the crazy Saudi offer, or maybe the club will want to move him on due to the off field issues.

 

[ThierryHenry14]

Since United last won the PL title back in 12/13 they have won: 1x FA Cups, 1x Europa League and 2x EFL Cups.

In that same period Arsenal have won 4x FA Cups.

Both sides have been as bad or as good as each other in terms of winning trophies. Does this mean anyone that signs for United has decided to be a loser too?

Yes, by using the same logic. Only loser signs for United as well.

 

[cyberman]

What are you on about?

He, and West Ham, have been shit for 18 months now.
I’m sure someone will soon post stats about progressive passes and all this but I was watching him involved in a midfield that allowed the likes of Bournemouth etc to walk right though them and dictate the play through midfield. It happened far too often and even his biggest supporters on here had to admit how much he was floundering.
My biggest gripe with Rice is this promise that he was setting out to become more expansive 2 seasons ago. That didn’t happen and he regressed to an even more restricted role that coincided with West Ham falling off a cliff. He may well play well in his area of the pitch but he isn’t leaving that box and I would blame Moyes but he does the exact same thing for England as well. This stupid fecking left side and drop right back into the CB position that he falls into. That’s where most of these tackles won etc stats come from.

Being the third CB in a congested defensive structure will see him collect a lot of blocks, interception, forwards passes etc stats because of the little space around him that he falls into. He’s the CM, that’s right on the CB toes, of course he’ll be the first pass from a defensive turnover a lot of times. He will be the player carrying it forward into the space that he himself vacated.
This is an era that asks DMs to cover the entire midfield following pressing triggers and covering those who push up.
He may well flourish under Arteta, there’s more than a good chance of doing that but it’s not based off of his form or performances from the last 18 months and if I were Havertz I’d be preparing myself to receive all of the blame for Rice not hitting the ground running because he needs a proper midfield partner etc.

 

[We need an rvn]

I think it will be very interesting to see how he improves Arsenal as I really don't know how much I rate Rice. I think he does a job, bit like Keane used to, that doesn't get all the credit they deserve for the work they do - however Keane was regularly voted MOTM and has put in some legendary displays, yet I don't see that in Rice.

Perhaps playing for Arsenal and CL football will elevate him to the next level - looking forward to seeing how it works out.

 

[tinfish]

I think it will be very interesting to see how he improves Arsenal as I really don't know how much I rate Rice. I think he does a job, bit like Keane used to, that doesn't get all the credit they deserve for the work they do - however Keane was regularly voted MOTM and has put in some legendary displays, yet I don't see that in Rice.

Perhaps playing for Arsenal and CL football will elevate him to the next level - looking forward to seeing how it works out.

me too. Curious how he will work out alongside Havertz. Split opinions and could go either way.

stronger links today that partey might be off to Saudi. If that’s the case I’d argue our midfield is weaker than last seasons even with the addition of someone like lavia

 

[Leftback99]

He, and West Ham, have been shit for 18 months now.
I’m sure someone will soon post stats about progressive passes and all this but I was watching him involved in a midfield that allowed the likes of Bournemouth etc to walk right though them and dictate the play through midfield. It happened far too often and even his biggest supporters on here had to admit how much he was floundering.
My biggest gripe with Rice is this promise that he was setting out to become more expansive 2 seasons ago. That didn’t happen and he regressed to an even more restricted role that coincided with West Ham falling off a cliff. He may well play well in his area of the pitch but he isn’t leaving that box and I would blame Moyes but he does the exact same thing for England as well. This stupid fecking left side and drop right back into the CB position that he falls into. That’s where most of these tackles won etc stats come from.

Being the third CB in a congested defensive structure will see him collect a lot of blocks, interception, forwards passes etc stats because of the little space around him that he falls into. He’s the CM, that’s right on the CB toes, of course he’ll be the first pass from a defensive turnover a lot of times. He will be the player carrying it forward into the space that he himself vacated.
This is an era that asks DMs to cover the entire midfield following pressing triggers and covering those who push up.
He may well flourish under Arteta, there’s more than a good chance of doing that but it’s not based off of his form or performances from the last 18 months and if I were Havertz I’d be preparing myself to receive all of the blame for Rice not hitting the ground running because he needs a proper midfield partner etc.

They beat Bournemouth 2-0 and 4-0 last season, including a Rice goal.

Man of match against us a couple of months ago. But yeah, he's been terrible for 18 months.

 

[GoonerGirly]

me too. Curious how he will work out alongside Havertz. Split opinions and could go either way.

stronger links today that partey might be off to Saudi. If that’s the case I’d argue our midfield is weaker than last seasons even with the addition of someone like lavia

I agree, losing both Xhaka and Partey at once is a massive blow and kind of fees like 2 steps forward, 3 steps back. That's our two most experienced players in our first XI gone. Think it's too much change for one window, especially with this young squad. If Partey does go, I don't think Lavia would cut it. We'd need a more proven, experienced midfielder IMO.

 

[Remember the geese]

Overpaid massively. Mainoo is more talented and will go on to be the better player.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

He, and West Ham, have been shit for 18 months now.
I’m sure someone will soon post stats about progressive passes and all this but I was watching him involved in a midfield that allowed the likes of Bournemouth etc to walk right though them and dictate the play through midfield. It happened far too often and even his biggest supporters on here had to admit how much he was floundering.
My biggest gripe with Rice is this promise that he was setting out to become more expansive 2 seasons ago. That didn’t happen and he regressed to an even more restricted role that coincided with West Ham falling off a cliff. He may well play well in his area of the pitch but he isn’t leaving that box and I would blame Moyes but he does the exact same thing for England as well. This stupid fecking left side and drop right back into the CB position that he falls into. That’s where most of these tackles won etc stats come from.

Being the third CB in a congested defensive structure will see him collect a lot of blocks, interception, forwards passes etc stats because of the little space around him that he falls into. He’s the CM, that’s right on the CB toes, of course he’ll be the first pass from a defensive turnover a lot of times. He will be the player carrying it forward into the space that he himself vacated.
This is an era that asks DMs to cover the entire midfield following pressing triggers and covering those who push up.
He may well flourish under Arteta, there’s more than a good chance of doing that but it’s not based off of his form or performances from the last 18 months and if I were Havertz I’d be preparing myself to receive all of the blame for Rice not hitting the ground running because he needs a proper midfield partner etc.

I've read the first line and I'll leave the post there.

Of course he's been so shit that the top two teams in England were willing to spend 90+ million and 105 million on him. He was so shit that Bayern spent months trying to convince him to move to Germany. He was so shit that Chelsea were interested for well over a year, but once CL was unachievable they were ruled out by the player. Yes, so shit.

What laughable nonsense.

 

[Man-United]

As always on this forum people underrate the English players.

 

[HookedOnAPhelan]

Midfield Maguire. Thank feck we weren’t the suckers this time.

 

[cyberman]

I've read the first line and I'll leave the post there.

Of course he's been so shit that the top two teams in England were willing to spend 90+ million and 105 million on him. He was so shit that Bayern spent months trying to convince him to move to Germany. He was so shit that Chelsea were interested for well over a year, but once CL was unachievable they were ruled out by the player. Yes, so shit.

What laughable nonsense.

I don’t know how you judge players but that’s a horrendous metric. Maybe those rumours is how you justify being conned into paying 105m for him over 3 fecking years.
But I am arguing with an Arsenal fan who seems to have literally not mentioned Rice until a few months ago on here unless I’m missing something? I’m guessing you were so impressed with his performances that you kept them to yourself?
I don’t really blame you for not reading past the first line since you genuinely seemed to have talked yourself into this signing 6 weeks ago

 

[roonster09]

I like how you broke your squad down, I'll give it a crack.

Spoiler

Core Player
Saka - 21
Saliba - 22
Martinelli - 22
Odegaard - 24
Rice - 24
White - 25
Gabriel - 25
Ramsdale - 25
Jesus - 26

First Team Player
Timber - 22
ESR - 23
Havertz - 24
Zinchenko - 26
Trossard - 28
Partey - 30

Squad Player
Kiwior - 23
Nelson - 23
Vieira - 23
Tomiyasu - 24
Nketiah - 24
KT - 26
Turner - 29
Jorginho - 31

Might be sold / uncertain future
Patino - 19
Balogun - 22
Holding - 27
Pepe - 28
Soares - 31
El Neny - 31

You're right though, things can and do change quickly. But when I say we are set I mean that we have essentially a whole entire squad - and at the very least all of our core players - at a perfect age to develop together and be around for years to come.

Obviously there will be movement both in and out over the next few years, but thankfully if some if our players decide to move on we will at least be in a position to recoup some decent money. We made virtually no money back from the old group that took years to move on (Mustafi, Bellerin, Chambers, Mkhi, Sokratis, PEA, Mari, Laca, Kolasinac, etc). There are still a few left in Pepe, Soares and maybe Holding, but I expect they'll all be moved on this season.

Yeah, you have built very good squad and with right age profile. Like you said, if you had to lose players then you are in good position to make good money to reinvest.

Arteta and Edu have done very good job transforming squad from overpaid dross to young and hungry players.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

Some of these posts

The levels of stupidity and hateful bias from some posters (not all of course) has my brain haemorrhaging. Thankfully I've learned in my old age that it's just not healthy to argue with every moron on the internet, otherwise this place will be the death of me.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Pretty jealous to be honest.

He'll be an immense signing for them.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

I don’t know how you judge players but that’s a horrendous metric. Maybe those rumours is how you justify being conned into paying 105m for him over 3 fecking years.
But I am arguing with an Arsenal fan who seems to have literally not mentioned Rice until a few months ago on here unless I’m missing something? I’m guessing you were so impressed with his performances that you kept them to yourself?
I don’t really blame you for not reading past the first line since you genuinely seemed to have talked yourself into this signing 6 weeks ago

Yes, using the fact the best team on the planet bar none, the best team in Germany and the second best team in England all wanted to sign him is a stupid metric to use when refuting your claim that the player has been "shit for 18 months."

Dig up.

 

[cyberman]

Midfield Maguire. Thank feck we weren’t the suckers this time.

He wouldn’t be bad in Stones role under Pep. A genuine CB / CM hybrid position that’s actually been allocated for in the team structure.
Pep buys players for 1/2 seasons time and he wasn’t being signed to weirdly revert their midfield two to a double pivot. Stones is 30 by the end of next season, it’s what City is all about.
I can now see why Arsenal signed Timber as well, they now have to reinforce the playing side around Rice but they shouldn’t have to do that around a 105m player.
Maguire is just shit

 

[cyberman]

Yes, using the fact the best team on the planet bar none, the best team in Germany and the second best team in England all wanted to sign him is a stupid metric to use when refuting your claim that the player has been "shit for 18 months."

Dig up.

Mount has been shit for 18 months according to Chelsea fans.
We wanted him and got him, Liverpool wanted him and you wanted him. Hell according to German reports Tuchel wanted him as well.
Can you explain the difference here? Havertz says hello by the way. Madrid wanted him as well. You telling me he hasn’t been woeful for a long time now?
Obviously you can point to many games where Rice stood out last season. I’m open to be corrected but we both know you won’t and we both know why.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

As always on this forum people underrate the English players.

Yeah sure

 

[pocco]

Midfield Maguire. Thank feck we weren’t the suckers this time.

Have you ever watched him?

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

I've read the first line and I'll leave the post there.

Of course he's been so shit that the top two teams in England were willing to spend 90+ million and 105 million on him. He was so shit that Bayern spent months trying to convince him to move to Germany. He was so shit that Chelsea were interested for well over a year, but once CL was unachievable they were ruled out by the player. Yes, so shit.

What laughable nonsense.

Is there a single credible source for the Bayern stuff you’re quoting as fact?
Because I don’t see any World in which Bayern would be prepared to absolutely annihilate their transfer record for Declan Rice, and even less so in a year they will have to spend big on a striker. Sounds like goal.com or caughtoffside nonsense.

You should probably also remember that all reports claimed Pep also desperately wanted Maguire.

 

[redcucumber]

Huge signing for the Arse. I'm glad he's gone there and not Chelsea.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

Mount has been shit for 18 months according to Chelsea fans.
We wanted him and got him, Liverpool wanted him and you wanted him. Hell according to German reports Tuchel wanted him as well.
Can you explain the difference here? Havertz says hello by the way. Madrid wanted him as well. You telling me he hasn’t been woeful for a long time now?
Obviously you can point to many games where Rice stood out last season. I’m open to be corrected but we both know you won’t and we both know why.

Can't believe how shit he's been for 18 months.

Just imagine how good he'll be when he becomes even mediocre, according to cyberman of the interweb's standards.

 

[Licha-Vidic]

Midfield Maguire. Thank feck we weren’t the suckers this time.

80% true. This expensive signings generally never work .
People will be shocked again when it won't work and act surprised.

Over 30 players have gone for more than €80M.
Here is the list. How many have genuinely been a success, genuine success through individual success and collective team success ? Which can be agreed by all group of fans.

Ronaldo ManUtd - Real Madrid.
Neymar Santos - Barcelona
VvD S'ton - Liverpool
Suarez Liverpool - Barca
Maybe Mbappe to some degree

From around 34 players, only 5 and below we can all agree to have been a success.

1	Neymar	Barcelona - PSG	2017	€222m
2	Kylian Mbappe	Monaco - PSG	2017	€145m (+€35m)
3	Joao Felix	Benfica - Atletico Madrid	2019	€126m
4	Enzo Fernandez	Benfica - Chelsea	2023	€121m
=5	Philippe Coutinho	Liverpool - Barcelona	2018	€120m (+€40m)
=5	Antoine Griezmann	Atletico Madrid - Barcelona	2019	€120m
7	Jack Grealish	Aston Villa - Manchester City	2021	€117m
8	Romelu Lukaku	Inter - Chelsea	2021	€115m
=9	Ousmane Dembele	Borussia Dortmund - Barcelona	2017	€105m (+€45m)
=9	Paul Pogba	Juventus - Manchester United	2016	€105m
11	Jude Bellingham	Dortmund - Real Madrid	2023	€103m
12	Gareth Bale	Tottenham - Real Madrid	2013	€100.8m
=13	Cristiano Ronaldo	Real Madrid - Juventus	2018	€100m
=13	Eden Hazard	Chelsea - Real Madrid	2019	€100m (+€40m)
=13	Mykhailo Mudryk	Shakhtar Donetsk - Chelsea	2023	€100m
16	Antony	Ajax - Manchester United	2022	€95m (+€5m)
17	Cristiano Ronaldo	Manchester United - Real Madrid	2009	€94m
18	Gonzalo Higuain	Napoli - Juventus	2016	€90m
19	Harry Maguire	Leicester City - Manchester United	2019	€87.1m
20	Neymar	Santos - Barcelona	2013	€86.2m
21	Jadon Sancho	Borussia Dortmund - Manchester United	2021	€85m
22	Romelu Lukaku	Everton - Manchester United	2017	€84.8m
23	Virgil van Dijk	Southampton - Liverpool	2018	€84.5m
24	Luis Suarez	Liverpool - Barcelona	2014	€82.3m
25	Wesley Fofana	Leicester City - Chelsea	2022	€80.6m
=26	Aurelien Tchouameni	Monaco - Real Madrid	2022	€80m (+€20m)
=26	James Rodriguez	Monaco - Real Madrid	2014	€80m
=26	Kepa Arrizabalaga	Athletic Club - Chelsea	2018	€80m
=26	Lucas Hernandez	Atletico Madrid - Bayern Munich	2019	€80m
=26	Romelu Lukaku	Manchester United - Inter	2019	€80m
31	Nicolas Pepe	Lille - Arsenal	2019	€79.9m
32	Alvaro Morata	Real Madrid - Chelsea	2017	€79.9m

Add Kai Havertz in this list.. From Leverkusen to Chelsea €85M

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Anyone can grab 5 different random metrics though to suit said player.

 

[cyberman]

Can't believe how shit he's been for 18 months.

Just imagine how good he'll be when he becomes even mediocre, according to cyberman of the interweb's standards.

I’m waited on these performances being quoted for me and I knew they wouldn’t come. I even predicted stats.
Ok, you’ve talked yourself into the signing, see you in December. Your last stat graphic is what I described 2 posts up but you didn’t read past the first line.
Ok then so.
Edit I’ll give you an example
Idrissa Gueye
Top ten in tackles, successful tackles and interceptions in opponents half.
Must be 90m at least for him, am I right?

 

[cesc's_mullet]

Is there a single credible source for the Bayern stuff you’re quoting as fact?
Because I don’t see any World in which Bayern would be prepared to absolutely annihilate their transfer record for Declan Rice, and even less so in a year they will have to spend big on a striker. Sounds like goal.com or caughtoffside nonsense.

You should probably also remember that all reports claimed Pep also desperately wanted Maguire.

Tuchel was managing Chelsea when they first started targeting Rice.

Romano and others (Tier 1) reported many times that Bayern were working on convincing him to move to Germany - that's when the stories about him preferring to stay in London started to come out (due to young family).

 

[cesc's_mullet]

Anyone can grab 5 different random metrics though to suit said player.

Can they? Prove it to me and show me Antony or Mudryk as one of the best wingers in the league.

Also what metrics are you going to grab that better suit a defensive midfielder?

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Can they? Prove it to me and show me Antony or Mudryk as one of the best wingers in the league.

Also what metrics are you going to grab that better suit a defensive midfielder?

They don’t prove him as one of the best, they prove he got more than 30 in each of the hand selected categories, not that he topped them.

 

[We need an rvn]

me too. Curious how he will work out alongside Havertz. Split opinions and could go either way.

stronger links today that partey might be off to Saudi. If that’s the case I’d argue our midfield is weaker than last seasons even with the addition of someone like lavia

Perhaps, but with the addition of Timber, who has a great touch for a defender and can bring the ball out from the back, I think you’ve had an excellent transfer window. Rice is a huge improvement over hacka (mental leadership as well as ability) and timber too.

I have my doubt on whether havertz can do what is expected as i think, like us, you need an out an out 9 to really challenge city.

 

[11101]

Dodged a bullet at that price. He's a decent player and strengthens their squad but he doesn't get them any closer to City.

 

[Leftback99]

The levels of stupidity and hateful bias from some posters (not all of course) has my brain haemorrhaging. Thankfully I've learned in my old age that it's just not healthy to argue with every moron on the internet, otherwise this place will be the death of me.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

They don’t prove him as one of the best, they prove he got more than 30 in each of the hand selected categories, not that he topped them.

They were posted in response to the claim Rice has been "shit for 18 months." What's more likely, a player that's shit is going to be at the top of those metrics or not? I think the answer is obvious.

I agree they don't necessarily prove that he's one of the best DM's in the league. But they certainly support the case.

Now just grab 5 metrics and show me how good Mudryk, Antony and Nunez are. It's that easy right.