Declan Rice is one of the most watched and exciting midfielders in the Premier League, playing for Arsenal. The Englishman has truly transformed himself into one of the best players in the team and the league as well.
The former West Ham captain was sought after by many clubs, owing to his immense talent and soccer ability. He was finally bought by Arsenal, though not without contention and not without some heavy spending. And Rice himself has decided to talk about his transfer.
Declan Rice on £100 million to Arsenal
Declan Rice was bought by Arsenal last summer after a long, protracted period of negotiations. Both Bayern Munich and Manchester City were also interested in the player. West Ham finally agreed to let him go for a fee of £100 million, along with £5 million in add-ons. At the time, it was the British record transfer fee for a player, which was very soon broken.
With such a heavy price tag, Rice got put under all the pressures and expectations. Everyone expected him to instantly change the landscape of the team. This was the same Arsenal team that narrowly missed out on the Premier League title to Manchester City last season. And so, Rice had some pretty huge expectations to fulfill.
In an interview recently, the English midfielder was asked about his transfer and the big fee it cost to bring him in. The 24-year-old admitted that it came with a lot of pressure, saying, “£100m, it’s a lot of money… I could understand the pressure that comes with it.”
He also said that he wants to make sure he repays Arsenal with his performances, “I want to repay Arsenal back straight away. They have invested a lot of money in me, I need to prove why I can go there and change things.” This shows that he has the right mentality to succeed at a big team like Arsenal.
Declan Rice’s performance at Arsenal this season
Declan Rice has already started to prove why he is worth the price Arsenal paid for him. The midfielder has slotted right into the heart of the team and has started dictating games for them. Often, it is him that runs the team’s tempo.
He has already played in 18 games this season, and has 2 goals and an assist in them. Both of his goals were crucial as well, the first one in a 3-1 win against United which was the winner, and a brilliant equalizer against Chelsea in a 2-2 draw. Both helped Arsenal to gain crucial points in their bid to challenge for the Premier League title.
The Gunners are just 3rd in the table with 27 points, just one point off the top. Rice will hope to help them win it this season to satisfy the fans’ expectations.
How well will Declan Rice and Arsenal fare in the Premier League this season? Make sure to let us know in the comments section.
