Former West Ham United coach Mark Warburton is ‘really looking forward’ to seeing Declan Rice establish himself as a fans favourite at Premier League giants Arsenal.
They say ‘good things come to those who wait’. And Arsenal fans have certainly had to be patient; Declan Rice still not unveiled as a Gunners player, a week-and-a-half after Fabrizio Romano uttered those three magic words.
Arsenal, Romano said all the way back on July 4th, will pay a potential £105 million for Rice. A fee which makes him the most expensive English player of all time. The second-most expensive in Premier League history behind only Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.
And Warburton, who was part of David Moyes’ coaching staff during the 2022/23 campaign, sees no reason why a player of Rice’s quality and maturity cannot live up to those sky-high expectations at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal to make Declan Rice their new record signing
“Absolutely (Rice can succeed with Arsenal). He’s just turned 24. He’s an outstanding individual, on and off the pitch,” Warburton tells talkSPORT (14 July, 10am).
“There will be so much more to come. He is a powerful athlete; technically, physically, he’s got so much more maturing to come, in a good way.
“He will endear himself to the dressing room and the fanbase. I am really looking forward to seeing how he does next season.”
It remains to be seen how Rice fits into Mikel Arteta’s system. He thrived as a box-to-box, left-sided central midfielder at West Ham, and could slot into a similar role for an Arsenal side who recently sold Granit Xhaka to Bayer Leverkusen.
Rice’s remarkably well-rounded skill-set, however, means he could also be fielded as something more akin to a ‘number six’ if Thomas Partey follows Xhaka out the door.
“He’s got the ability to burst forward with pace and power, and finish. He’s got that in his locker,” adds Warburton, the former Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Rangers boss.
“He (can play as) the defensive screen; he closes down so quickly, and he can drop into a back four. He’s aerially strong and so comfortable on the ball.
“He’s got the flexibility to play in a number of different positions.”
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