Arsenal

[red g]

Thought something similar when I heard the transfer news late last night. First thing that came into my head was that Rice will be a VVD level signing for Arsenal in terms of impact.

And just like VVD he will have loads of questions asked about the price and once the season is underway I suspect the questions will get asked less and less.

I just don't see him at that level. Thats a hell of a high bar to reach,

Maybe he will step up, I see a good player but maybe not watched him enough but I can only think of a couple of games where he stood out to me.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I just don't see him at that level. Thats a hell of a high bar to reach,

Maybe he will step up, I see a good player but maybe not watched him enough but I can only think of a couple of games where he stood out to me.

Personally I think he has it in him to get to that level sort of in his position, but that was not quite what I meant.

What I mean is that I think he will be as transformational a player for Arsenal as VVD was for our team.

Think he will suit them to a tee and add levels of leadership, organisation and sheer ability greater than what they currently have available to them.

He is, imo of course, sort of like the rug in the Big Lewbowski. He will tie the room together for Arsenal


Plus at his age he has the potential to anchor that midfield at the highest level for them for the next five or six years.

[RichC]

Rice is a good signing for them and certainly an upgrade on Xhaka. The fee is absolutely mental considering how long he's got left on his contract but if Arsenal are willing to spend that then fair enough.

Havertz I'm not sure about, he feels like a luxury player to me but if they can figure out how to use him properly he could work but will he get in the way of Odegaard and disrupt how they play ?

[Corndog]

Declan Rice is overrated. To be paying that much for him is ridiculous.

He’s not a world class player technically and he’s not quick. He’s not a goal scorer or an assister. He’s a good passer and he’s physical.

I don’t think he will be so much of an upgrade on xhaka

[Buzzo]

The thing with Rice is he is untested at the very top level out with a few international games that England have lost. I also think he is a high risk signing at that money, but if they can afford it - then why not.

The pressure on them to deliver silverware is high now and a season where they get next best really isn’t good enough. They are heading into their own version of the season where we won the CL.

That final step is a massive one.

[Doc_Piptorious]

The thing with Rice is he is untested at the very top level out with a few international games that England have lost. I also think he is a high risk signing at that money, but if they can afford it - then why not.

The pressure on them to deliver silverware is high now and a season where they get next best really isn’t good enough. They are heading into their own version of the season where we won the CL.

That final step is a massive one.

But at the same time far more proven, tested and experienced than guys like Caicedo who are having fees of around 80m put beside their names.

Even Lavia with a whole 29 league games to his name is having figures around 50m mooted for him.

Rice at least has over 200 premier league games to his name and a lot of appearances playing against teams that are much better than the one he is with to evaluate him with.

Which is not me saying he is "worth" 100m, but then again the fees we paid for Alisson and VVD raised many eyebrows at the time (though tbf Ali was rated as one of the best keepers in the game when we got him) and in hindsight they now look like bargains thanks to the service given.


If Rice puts in five or six years of good performances for Arsenal, then the price tag starts to look like good business.

Think part of the problem now is we are at the stage now where a 60m fee from a season or two ago is now this year's 100m fee and we as fans are still using the old figures in our heads.


To put some of Rice's underlying stats in context, he is putting up similar (though not quite as good) figures over the past three seasons playing for a club like West Ham as Rodri has for City and Tchouameni has for Real and Monaco.

Those two players have the advantage of having elite players around them to make the most of their qualities whereas Rice has put up his numbers without being in a team of equals.

Also his underlying figures are very similar to what peak Fabinho was putting up for us when we were firing on all cylindars.

My own take is Rice is going to be a success in an understated manner. The kind of player that holds the team together, keeps it ticking over and who is missed only when he is out of the team and the team suddenly looks easier to play through.

[Tribute]

My own take is Rice is going to be a success in an understated manner. The kind of player that holds the team together, keeps it ticking over and who is missed only when he is out of the team and the team suddenly looks easier to play through.

...sounds like he's gonna be the new Michael Carrick.

[RedReet]

Despite their spending, I'm predicting that Arsenal will struggle next year. I don't think they'll be anywhere near City and hopefully us.

[red g]

£170m on two players.
Arsenal have gone full Boehly here.
Upgraded Xhaka and Aubamayang with Rice and Havertz.

Decent.
But bloody expensive for what they are.

210m on 3, Timber Incoming.

[Norbs]

Chris Wood?

[Norbs]

Or Leslie Ash?

[Norbs]

Perhaps Ben dOak

[Venton]

Plank Lampard

[SB]

He won’t want to sit on the Pine will he

[Fosterbloke]

Rice for £100m or Mac Allister for £35m.

One has won the world ****ing cup, the other the farmers association cup.

One has been tested at the highest level in world football, the other tested in the third highest level in European football.