Declan Rice: Page 6 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Declan Rice

Tam

Quick Google shows there are some articles from the end of 2022 which suggest it might not be clear cut and that we have come to the attention of UEFA. Doesn't seem to be clear because of the impact of COVID losses and how they are accounted for, alongside other allowable deductions, but it certainly doesn't paint a picture that we're well within FFP.

goon That being said, with our squad profile being so young and the team being fairly complete, the risks associated with overspending on one player are much lower. Rice's athleticism, size and rounded technical ability means he's a pretty safe bet to at least be a decent player.

It's one thing with the average age being so young, but he's coming into a midfield to take minutes from a Xhaka and Partey who are knocking on and might not have many years left as guaranteed first team starters. If we blow a load on him, it could still have a significant impact when it comes to replacing the other and finding Rice a longer term partner, or even replacement, depending how his time goes.

RowJimmy

One thing I'm not worried about is KSE making prudent long-term business decisions.
The more we spend on a player the more pointed the question as to whether this is the best person available for the amount of money at stake. How much more will Bellingham cost than Rice?

Burnwinter

Yeah it's the opportunity cost, or relative cost, not the absolute. Anyway, I would not necessarily think that us seeming to publicly pursue Rice either guarantees that he's our top target, or that we'll land him.

Rice has a profile big enough it means the busy transfer journalists are reasoning back from his availability to the need for stories like these. We're probably happy with it as it draws attention to us as a destination for star talent while obscuring other activity. But we will have other midfield targets, so … you can compare this to the Mudryk rumour.

Don Pacifico

Burnwinter Yeah, inclined to agree with this. There is a whiff of the 'Tielemans' about this. There's definitely been a couple of other names we've been linked to strongly who we've seemingly gone cold on once the window comes round.

Pepe LeFrits

I think there's plenty of evidence too that we're prepared to move in a big way for players enjoying a short enough run of form, so I'm slightly skeptical of these long running "number one target" type stories. Think our priority lists are probably quite dynamic and the financial side obviously plays a huge part too.

MistaT

I've come around to this transfer, but more so as a 8 replacement for Xhaka than to replace Partey as a 6.

Rice has tremendous stamina and pace, and with that we'll be able to both press and recover better than we can with Xhaka. Fair credit to Xhaka though - he certainly helps out defensively but Rice will bring us up a level, and with a game type more in tune with how to play in Europe.

Not sure I like him as our sole DM though. Too much of his game is based on his ability to push the ball past a man on the run, and I think it'll be hard to curb that skill/instinct which we need from our 6.

Burnwinter

I wouldn't call myself a Rice expert, but the nice compilation above is mostly full of the skills and actions you'd want from Xhaka's successor, and few of those you'd want from Partey's.

However we may well not keep the current midfield approach if Partey moves on. The way I see it, if we recruit a couple of very high quality midfielders, both of whom are very robust and mobile, and very technically sound defensively, we will be able to work it tactically after Xhaka and Partey are gone.

lorddulaarsenal

Evolving. Really hope we get Declan.

jones

Hope this wanker stays away

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

What do we envisage him doing on the pitch for us?

Gazza M

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert everything xhaka does, with a higher level athleticism and intensity. the xhaka role not only needs a strong two way player, but also needs a player that replaces the tactical and emotional leadership qualities that arteta sees in xhaka. this is an intangible that can get overlooked in a structure that requires as much discipline as ours to execute consistently

I also think there is potential for him to become a danger with late runs into the box, something his role at west ham doesn't really allow.

Doc

Winning the ball and transitioning. Ok for Partey role, but at what cost? Would want a lot more from our 8... Maybe Arteta wants to change the structure next season

Would prefer Caicedo.

flobaba

Doc what standout qualities will Caicedo bring that Rice doesn’t have?

jones

flobaba much better pressing resistance, more nimble feet, quicker mind in reading where to move the ball next.

Rice is a good player but he's fundamentally unsuited to replace Partey, just because two players are good defensively doesn't mean they're interchangeable. Caicedo wouldn't be a great replacement at the moment either but he's closer to him in style and could grow into the role whereas Rice with 200+ PL appearances is what he is at this point

Doc

flobaba

Feel like he is just a much smarter player in general. Better technique and passing quality

Caicedo would temporarily be more suited to cover both roles imo.

Edit - agree with Jones also.

banduan

Rice would fit the #8 role much better than Caicedo, he just won't be able to replace Partey (unlike Caicedo). He carries the ball well and is a much smarter passer than he's given credit for. Absolute solid all-rounder much like Xhaka but with better technique. He's just not quite that press-resistant and he doesn't have the monster physique.

Qwiss

I don't see Rice as ideal for either role. Much rather get Caicedo in for the 6 role and then have someone far more technical and with real vision. Its all well and good winning the ball and playing a simple pass to Antonia to run into space but what does Rice offer when you are looking at 10 men behind the ball most weeks? He'd be good at stopping the counter but thats too defensive if you've got Partey in the team too.

Clrnc

Qwiss which is the same problem England have when they play him. They play Bellingham they improve tenfold.

That's not to say he's not a good player. He clearly is intelligent but his antics yesterday was really annoying AF. for that money we can do better

Gazza M

rice showed alot of what I like about him. he was at the heart of most of west hams best moments, and was ever-present defensively. I see him as a jesus type of signing. there's perhaps a few more enticing names out there, but I wouldn't be disappointed if we bought him, and I think he has a few more gears to unlock in a system like ours

Burnwinter

Gazza M I think he has a few more gears to unlock in a system like ours

Yeah, I think this is the key to the synthesis here. @Qwiss (and myself for what it's worth) is right, Rice isn't the best use of funds and comes across more as a "Captain Courageous" than a world class player, but also he's got a brilliant engine, the elan to get involved in everything and the grit to cover defensively, but also he probably could manage pass and move around the area at a high level if that was his role.

One issue we have with midfield at present is that Partey's very particular set of skills lends itself to an overall specialisation. We benefit from it right up until we don't. Rice would represent a step away from that, boosting the overall energy hugely without outstanding attributes or deficiencies.

Let's say we somehow got both Rice and Caicedo, we'd be working for months to figure out how they best played together, but we wouldn't be lacking for effort or raw ability.

lorddulaarsenal

Also with Rice and Partey both in the eleven you’ll have a physically dominant midfield. We’d be so hard to play against even on off days

Gazza M

lorddulaarsenal yep. partey might wane physically in the next few years as well. I've seen some calls for the new 8 to be a deft string-puller in the cazorla mould but I feel there's danger in unbalancing the robustness of our midfield in the medium-long term if the new is primarily a creator rather than a two way midfielder

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