By Jack Beam
When Declan Rice traded West Ham for pastures new at Arsenal, it certainly raised a few eyebrows. Despite the academy graduate’s stellar performances for the Hammers in their first UEFA Europa Conference League title win, his July 2023 move to Arsenal was deemed a gamble by some. Fast forward to today, though, and Rice’s £105 million fee looks to be proving a real bargain.
While it might be tough for some fans to get their heads around the idea of a £105m move being seen as a cheap deal, Rice’s impact has been immense. Even before the Englishman spearheaded Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final charge against Real Madrid with two stunning free-kicks, Rice had been a monster midfielder all season.
A domestic transfer for a player at the peak of his powers
Aged 26 and with plenty of room for growth, the £105m Arsenal paid for Rice could be earned back in just a few seasons, particularly if they manage to reign supreme in the Champions League. For a domestic transfer, there is a strong argument to suggest the fee Rice commanded could have been far higher. As his former manager David Moyes recently stated, Arsenal may well have signed him on the cheap.
For instance, prior to Rice’s £105m move across London, the £100m Manchester City paid to Aston Villa for Jack Grealish in 2021 was the biggest transfer fee ever for a British footballer. Grealish has contributed to City’s cause and won trophies at the club, but his impact hasn’t been as great as Rice’s already. The English midfield general has provided some much-needed protection to Arsenal’s backline, while he has been deployed in a number of different positions during his Gunners career to date, be it in a single pivot in a midfield three or in a more attacking role. A player Mikel Arteta clearly rates, Rice is a key cog in Arsenal’s wheel.
Meanwhile, Grealish, who is clearly a hugely talented player in his own right, has failed to nail down a consistent starting position at Manchester City despite the large fee paid to acquire his services. Sure, the former Villa man has had his moments, but he’s now widely regarded as a replaceable asset. Rice, though, is at the heart of everything Arsenal do and will be for years to come.
Capable of shining in the biggest of matches
While there are numerous examples of players becoming victims of their own price tags, Rice has taken it in his stride and delivered on the biggest of occasions. As his match-winning performance against Real Madrid highlighted, he’s capable of mixing it with the very best. To be able to command an Arsenal midfield that came up against the likes of Luka Modric, Jude Bellingham, and Eduardo Camavinga highlighted just how influential he is.
With a huge Champions League semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain up next, the Gunners head into this crucial encounter knowing their reliable midfielder is capable of running the show. Rice is clearly hungry to be the very best, he’s a consummate professional, and the game-changing moments he’s already provided could become a regular occurrence.
A future captain for club and country
For £105m, Arsenal could also be looking at a future club captain. Likewise, with Harry Kane entering the latter stages of his career, Rice is regarded by many as the perfect candidate for the England captaincy. A leader of men who sets the tone with his combative displays and his evident passion on the pitch, Rice has all the makings of a true leader.
Rice could lead Arsenal to European glory
As his back-to-back Man of the Match awards against a behemoth in Real Madrid showcased, Declan Rice rises to almost any challenge. What felt like a coming of age moment for the Gunners star was a culmination of years of hard work to get to the very top of the sport.
Now, with his prime years firmly ahead of him, Rice has the hunger and desire needed to reach even higher levels and lead Arsenal into a brighter future. Whether it comes this season or next, Arsenal are ready to compete with Europe’s elite once again, and Rice has helped them get there.
A £105m fee is a lot to pay for any player, but Rice isn’t just any footballer. There is much more to come from one of the very best players in his position.
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