Arsenal transfer news: Richard Keys says Declan Rice will sign, slams Mikel Arteta

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Richard Keys has claimed that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will secure a summer transfer for Declan Rice from West Ham United.

The beIN SPORTS presenter added that he wasn’t happy with Mikel Arteta’s ‘whining’ and ‘moaning’ following Arsenal’s 3-0 humbling at the hands of Brighton on Sunday, he wrote in his personal blog.

But he thinks that the Gunners will ‘push on again’ next season by securing the services of England’s sought-after midfielder, Declan Rice.

If Rice were to move to the Emirates, then he would compete with Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka for starting spot.

Although, there are suggestions that Xhaka could be headed for the exit door this summer. So, will Arteta use Rice as a left-sided number eight, if that happens?

Or perhaps even replace Partey because Gary Neville was critical of the midfielder’s recent downfall.

Nonetheless, this is what Keys had to say about Arteta’s reaction to their Brighton defeat and signing Rice.

“I was disappointed in the manner that Arteta reacted to Arsenal’s defeat by Brighton,” said Keys. “Here’s a man that’s spent most of his season celebrating, but he couldn’t find the dignity to accept that Brighton were simply better than his team and embrace their excitement.

“Arsenal have made enormous progress this season. My belief is that they get Declan Rice this summer and push on again, so why couldn’t Arteta have congratulated Brighton and then thanked his team for a terrific season-long effort?”

“He sounded like ten Hag whining and moaning about ‘unprofessionalism’ and an ‘unacceptable performance’. Get off. Smile for goodness sake. Arsenal’s was never a realistic challenge but they gave it a go. Give the guys a break. They’ve far exceeded expectations.”

ARSENAL LINKED TO DECLAN RICE

Not many are doubting that he is going to leave because, even David Moyes has spoken about it and how West Ham will demand more than the £107 million Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernandez.

But this is a case of whether those interested parties are willing to push the boat out for a player that has been dubbed a ‘diamond’ by Owen Hargreaves.

Rice is worth the gamble, he is ready for that step up to a team in the Champions League, but as Paul Scholes alluded to, not for the £100+ million that is being spoken about him.