In the midst of anticipation and media speculation, Arsenal fans can now breathe a sigh of relief as the club’s new £100m signing, Declan Rice has finally arrived. The doubts created by the press about the deal’s completion were merely fleeting obstacles on the path to what was always destined to happen – a significant statement signing for Arsenal. Drawing parallels with Liverpool’s record signing of Virgil van Dijk, Rice’s arrival promises to have a transformative impact on the team’s fortunes. As what seems likely this summer, we will bid farewell to our previous record statement signing Nicholas Pepe, who struggled to live up to his price tag, this time it feels different. Rice brings an aura of promise, with a strong English spirit and exceptional leadership qualities, which will make him an indispensable addition to the Arsenal midfield.

Declan Rice’s leadership qualities are not newfound attributes but have long been evident from an early age during his time at West Ham. His presence as a natural leader will prove invaluable for Arsenal, especially after the departure of Granit Xhaka, who was also admired for his leadership on the pitch. This is by no means a dig at Granit Xhaka to suggest that in addition to providing leadership to the team there is an upgrade in dynamism and ability provided by Rice.  Declan Rice’s ability to inspire and rally his teammates will elevate the team’s performance and boost their morale during crucial moments in matches much like he did for West ham on their Europa Conference League run. It is hoped his addition could be the difference between winning and drawing last season at West Ham and at Anfield.

Rice’s decision to join Arsenal speaks volumes about the club’s stature and allure. Our Performances last season in addition to qualifying for the Champions league made people sit up and take notice. We became desirable again to elite players, something we haven’t been for a number of years .The young midfielder has expressed his happiness at signing for a club of Arsenal’s magnitude, seemingly inspired by the legacy of the club’s past legends that have graced the Emirates Stadium (and more importantly Highbury) and brought home numerous trophies. Rice’s belief in the club’s potential to return to its former glory bodes well for Arsenal’s future.

Despite becoming the most expensive English player in history, Declan Rice does not carry any hint of arrogance or a prima donna attitude. His professionalism and grounded nature ensure that he will integrate seamlessly into the Arsenal squad. Rice’s dedication to working hard and mucking in with his teammates will foster a strong team ethos that will undoubtedly have a positive impact on and off the pitch. He has connections with many of our players’ already through England duty and in these early stages already you can see he is integrated into the squad seamlessly.

Arsenal fans endured a period of frustration during the signing process, with the media deliberately adding to the uncertainty with their speculatively released titbits to give the impression of issues. However, the delayed announcement I believe was a calculated move by the club, timed just before the impending tour of the USA and the release of the new away shirt for that extra early bump in sales. Not a fan of the shirt I may add but it is what it is; new signings guarantee more sales, especially statement signings. The excitement among fans is palpable, and the wait for Rice’s official unveiling had only amplified the thrill of his arrival, I’m still soaking up all the material on social media and not bored at all.

With Rice on board, Arsenal’s (or should I say Mikel Arteta’s with the backing of the owners)  journey to reclaiming their status as one of the top clubs in England and lifting the higher end silverware seems more promising than ever before. We could cement our place as a club that challenges for the top trophies on a regular basis once again. The fans’ trusting of the process may finally be rewarded, and now, the beautiful moment of witnessing Declan Rice in Arsenal colours has arrived. The build continues but we are moving in right direction.

Amidst this entire amazing buzz over Declan Rice let’s spare a thought for Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz who have merely been relegated to supporting acts and/or backup singers at the Arsenal show. This may seem a weird analogy I know but Declan Rice is the Beyonce to the Michelle and Kelly of Timber and Havertz in terms of signing buzz. Havertz did at least have some time to be the main story, Timber who I am very excited about got 24hrs before his limelight was whisked away.

That’s not to say Arsenal fans aren’t excited by his acquisition. He is an exciting defender that is not just an additional number but an addition of quality to our defensive ranks which was honed at the superb institution that is Ajax. Jurrien Timber has that winning mentality and of course World Cup and Euro experience for the Netherlands.

Our trajectory is still heading upwards, the fans are excited, the players are excited, everyone associated with the club are excited to see how far we can go. Still a month until the season starts but I really am counting down the days for it all to get started.

Enjoy your day people

This post also features on Gunners Town site which I write for.