Declan "Deccers" Rice: Page 10 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Declan "Deccers" Rice

Clrnc

goon Don't get me wrong. I don't mean we are inflating our commercial income or doing illegal things. We are writing off legitimate sums and converting our loans to under Kroenke. That's how we are spending that much without getting much back.

Also, what I mean was the level that we can splash out. 105m on a player is pretty much what they can do and what people thought we can't. And we have been splashing out consistently for consecutive windows. And our activities suggest we can continue to do so as long as we have Kroenkes' blessings. For e.g. 100m for Mudryk wasn't the budget for Rice. If we see another top winger we might go for him again.

goon

Clrnc

Oh I see. Yeah we're definitely not holding back in that sense. Will be interesting to see how things develop though. Wasn't long ago that the Liverpool owners were being praised but it doesn't feel like they're willing to do much more than the bear minimum to get back to winning.

Qwiss

Clrnc 100m for Mudryk wasn't the budget for Rice. If we see another top winger we might go for him again.

It wasn't but its probably related to what we spent on Havertz and Timber. I don't think we'll splash out on a winger now. We have Trossard so we moved those funds elsewhere is my read on it.

Qwiss

goon Liverpool have still spent big though, Nunez, Gakpo, Diaz, Jota, etc were all big money signings.

Mirth

Qwiss My sense is that we're waiting for the right candidate to turn up. Trossard and Nelson are stop gaps until the opportunity presents itself - likely not this season though.

Qwiss

Mirth we scouted Diaby for half the season and didn't go for him at what looks like a reasonable price so maybe you're right. I do wonder have they realised that spending big on someone to displace Martinelli is a waste of resources though, his second half of the season was outstanding, when Jesus was out he didn't fall off, when other peoples form dropped his didn't, he really showed a lot in those last few months IMO.

Either way finding a winger who'll fit in and need to rotate is going to be difficult and its not really a position I think they can justify a £100m outlay. And look at the £70m+ wingers around, which of them are significantly better than Martinelli? None that I can think of.

Clrnc

Mirth I agree, just trying to say we have prepared quite a few huge bids for different players so it's not about the money or any lack of funds now, but the right player and opportunity. If there's a special player again I think the Kroenkes will allow us to splash more than 100m on him

Mirth

Qwiss I do wonder have they realised that spending big on someone to displace Martinelli is a waste of resources though, his second half of the season was outstanding, when Jesus was out he didn't fall off, when other peoples form dropped his didn't, he really showed a lot in those last few months IMO.

Agree - I take the point that he's still a bit raw in his overall game but his mentality is elite. Arteta dropped him around Feb but he forced himself back into the first 11 and was generally our best attacker in the closing months when everyone else went missing. I'd love to see him play as a striker though - feel like he could really make it his own.

Qwiss

Mirth I agree with most of that but not about the striker part. I think he can score just as much from the wing and it suits him better. Strikers have to do so much now in build up and pressing, etc I think he's better off coming from wide as it suits his natural talents more. He was also pretty great at tracking back and helping cover at left back in the latter half of the season.

Gazza M

I alluded to this in the rice transfer thread, but it can't be understated the experience and leadership vacuum xhaka leaves behind. he was artetas avatar on the pitch. someone with rices characteristics is the perfect upgrade because he provides all those leadership intangibles, with added bonus of not having a short fuse like granit

Burnwinter

Gazza M Absolutely. I saw a clip of Rice when he was joining West Ham's senior side and he was already saying "I like to think I'm a leader" … he has that conviction, but has been demonstrating it.

Seems to be the real reason why Arsenal fixated on Rice, and I would guess also the reason why Arteta's pitch to him was so appealing.

No saying how it plays out over several years. Maguire to United is a comparable case of a high-priced transfer with these "intangibles" (English grit, leadership, league-hardened, etc) factored in. Rice to Arsenal feels like a better bet with a smarter and better player, but you never know.

Qwiss

Burnwinter I saw a clip of Rice when he was joining West Ham's senior side and he was already saying "I like to think I'm a leader" … he has that conviction, but has been demonstrating it.

The Football Ramble podcast re-uploaded an interview with him from around that time after this signing and he was saying the same stuff. Also interesting that he seen himself very much as DM and thought his strengths were his ability to pass with both feet and to be aware of where everyone was as well as his defensive ability.

Pepe LeFrits

Arsenal's media stuff is so much better these days.

Can only imagine how special it must feel for Rice to walk down the tunnel there on his first day. Goosebumps.

Burnwinter

Pepe LeFrits And he's good with dogs? Think I'm in love.

JazzG

He genuinely looks over the moon to be here. Am really looking forward to seeing him play. Defensively I think he will top drawer for us, the way he passes can be improved and I think working under Arteta will help him there. Also having players taking up good positions to pass to always helps!

TambourineMan

He's going to be great for us.

lorddulaarsenal

Clearly not fully fit but my word he’s going to fit like a glove.

lorddulaarsenal

Listen to that laugh. He’s living life at Arsenal and is going to be so good to have around

Clrnc

Love his vibe

Panda

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12927601/declan-rice-exclusive-arsenal-midfielder-already-seeing-football-in-a-completely-different-way-at-new-club

Love his attitude.

Don Pacifico

Panda he's much more introspective than I realised; you can really hear that in the things he says, it all sounds very considered. That factor and the clear hunger he has to improve, to win, are infectious. Those qualities are really high up in the talent ID that Arteta and Edu recruit.

Some may have misgivings about the price, his technical ability (etc.) but I really think his attitude will win everyone over.

Excited to see how he develops.

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