‘With Xhaka and Partey’: Jay Bothroyd reacts to who Arsenal are about to sign

Follow us on Google Discover

Jay Bothroyd has lauded Declan Rice as a ‘top, top player’ ahead of his much-awaited transfer to Arsenal from London rivals West Ham United.

The former Arsenal player added that the 24-year-old is also ‘one of the best in his position’ as he is set to move across the capital after helping West Ham win the Europa Conference League in Prague.

That’s the perfect way for Declan Rice to bow out, but Bothroyd made it clear that he now has to perform for a ‘big club’ on the ‘biggest stage’, as he told Sporting News.

It will be interesting to see what role Rice plays under Mikel Arteta because he is putting a lot of faith in the England international.

Paying a British record fee for a player that has never even challenged for the Premier League title or even played in the Champions League is a massive risk.

But Manchester City did that with a certain Jack Grealish and he is now flying high at the Etihad, with Bothroyd sharing his thoughts on Rice.

“Declan Rice is the man everyone is talking about,” said Bothroyd. “He’s going to be the most expensive British footballer of all time and Arsenal are getting a top, top player — one of the best in his position.

“He’s been magnificent at West Ham: their captain, their leader. And he was fantastic as they won the Europa Conference League. We haven’t yet seen him perform on the biggest stage for a big club, and now he gets the chance.

“Personally, I didn’t feel like Rice was the be-all and end-all. £100 million on a defensive player, who isn’t a goalscoring midfielder is a lot of money. With Granit Xhaka and possibly Thomas Partey leaving, you need to bring in two top-quality midfielders. In the Champions League, Arsenal are not going to be in a position where they can rotate like they did in the Europa League last year.”

Can Rice take his game to the next level?

Yes, he hasn’t played at the elite level or for a team pushing for the title, but he has still felt the pressure of playing for West Ham and being a key player for England.

But all of that will now go up a few notches, and if he reacts well to it all, then he can take his game to the next level.

Depending on how Arteta uses him, if he plays as a left-sided number eight, then it’s time Rice showcased that he can become a goalscoring midfielder because he has shown the ability to carry the ball and strike the ball cleanly.