Arsenal-bound Declan Rice shares same feelings as Martin Odegaard

Reaction to Declan Rice signing for Arsenal

Arsenal fans are certainly excited about the future under Mikel Arteta following a brilliant and aggressive start to the summer transfer window. The club are on the brink of signing Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, following Kai Havertz’s arrival, taking their spending to over £200m.

It’s the imminent arrival of England midfielder Rice from West Ham that is getting everyone talking, notably down to the transfer fee but more importantly the type of player Arsenal will have at their disposal. Not only does he have everything in his locker, but he’s also a true leader who can rally the troops when the going gets tough.

He has been Arteta and Edu’s priority for quite some time, and it’s very easy to see why. Once the Rice business is done and dusted, the club will largely focus on outgoings to raise funds following their big spree.

But for now, talk will continue to evolve around Rice. And it appears the 24-year-old has been reacting to his imminent move in discussion with Danny Murphy. The former Liverpool and England midfielder, now a Match of the Day pundit, shared what the England ace told him ahead of his transfer to the Emirates.

Murphy yold FIVE UK: “I saw Dec on Sunday. We were chatting and he was buzzing, he couldn’t wait to get to Arsenal. He said [Mikel] Arteta was magic when he met him.”

Arteta’s influence on this mega-money transfer can’t be underestimated, with Rice having visited his home with the Arsenal manager launching the charm offensive. The Spaniard has been the one leading this move for a while now, and it appears he has this aura about him that a lot of the top managers have.

Rice isn’t the only one to have lauded Arteta’s influence ahead of moving to the Emirates. Current captain Martin Odegaard was left blown away by the former Arsenal player and Pep Guardiola’s ex-assistant during talks – and this was when the Gunners were down in the dumps.

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“I spoke to Mikel Arteta on a Zoom call and he told me all about the project,” Odegaard told The Players’ Tribune. “At the time, Arsenal were not doing well. They were way down like 15th in the table, but that meeting … Honestly, I challenge anyone to come away from a meeting with Arteta and not believe everything he tells you.”

Arsenal chiefs will be counting their lucky stars they decided to stick by Arteta during the dark days, as their patience is now paying off as they bid to go one step further in the Premier League. With Odegaard and Rice in the middle of the park, the Gunners have a pretty formidable spine.

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