Declan Rice

[bondsman]

105m for a midfielder who’s not better than our CB playing midfield. When did Rice become Zidane? For that money think we dodged a bullet.

 

[not my fault!]

105m for a midfielder who’s not better than our CB playing midfield. When did Rice become Zidane? For that money think we dodged a bullet.

I said this with Cucurella (sp?) last summer, turns out that was a bullet dodged too. Rice is a great player but I don’t see Arsenal challenging this season with the added pressure of CL footy and other teams being back in the mix.
I can’t say he’s not worth £105m as i think had he signed for us the price would eventually of been worth it, but at Arsenal I just don’t see that he’ll be worth the outlay to them.

 

[mancboy]

I said this with Cucurella (sp?) last summer, turns out that was a bullet dodged too. Rice is a great player but I don’t see Arsenal challenging this season with the added pressure of CL footy and other teams being back in the mix.
I can’t say he’s not worth £105m as i think had he signed for us the price would eventually of been worth it, but at Arsenal I just don’t see that he’ll be worth the outlay to them.

You also have to add in that arsenal are not a surprise package anymore, ive said it on here before ALOT of things went in arsenals favour last year and it struck me as a leicester type season which they didnt get over the line, i think theyll be good this year but it wont be the same.

 

[not my fault!]

You also have to add in that arsenal are not a surprise package anymore, ive said it on here before ALOT of things went in arsenals favour last year and it struck me as a leicester type season which they didnt get over the line, i think theyll be good this year but it wont be the same.

Yeh, exactly how I saw it. A Leinster type season but Arsenal bottled it at the end.
I also agree they’ll push again but too many factors will mean they fall apart again towards the end. They are not the only team improving their squad either.

 

[mancboy]

Yeh, exactly how I saw it. A Leinster type season but Arsenal bottled it at the end.
I also agree they’ll push again but too many factors will mean they fall apart again towards the end. They are not the only team improving their squad either.

How much improvement those players add remains to be seen, arsenal are very much like liverpool in that sense in that every player that they sign instantly becomes the best player in the world at that position

 

[Berts Neck]

I said this with Cucurella (sp?) last summer, turns out that was a bullet dodged too. Rice is a great player but I don’t see Arsenal challenging this season with the added pressure of CL footy and other teams being back in the mix.
I can’t say he’s not worth £105m as i think had he signed for us the price would eventually of been worth it, but at Arsenal I just don’t see that he’ll be worth the outlay to them.

I totally agree with the sentiments other than he would have been worth it for us..Jude, would have been a good buy, but Declan 105 million, just do not see it or just not enough knowledge of his skillset..Phillips should be given a good crack of the whip this season.. There is a good player there, somewhere, and he actually like Jack, seems a decent bloke and team player.

 

[not my fault!]

I totally agree with the sentiments other than he would have been worth it for us..Jude, would have been a good buy, but Declan 105 million, just do not see it or just not enough knowledge of his skillset..Phillips should be given a good crack of the whip this season.. There is a good player there, somewhere, and he actually like Jack, seems a decent bloke and team player.

I can agree with that.

 

[Dax777]

Tchoumeni? Cancelo? First isn't going anywhere, since Madrid considers him the future, Cancelo on the other hand first time I'm hearing him being linked to Arsenal.. I heard rumours about Barca but they now have different target for RB position.. But I agree, Arsenal will be scary with this summer signings and will probably battle City for the title again.. But still in the end City has a stronger side, 4th title in a row is my prediction for 23/24 PL..

I'm not as confident. We are the best team when injury bad luck doesn't play a significant role. But part of his you motivate that luck is with a bigger squad than usual.


It's my sense that Debruyne will not be as consistent this coming season due to injury, aging and fatigue. John and AKe also are generally injury prone. And we are a Rodri injury away from being disorganized.

I reckon Phil will step up as the Kev substitute. But we need someone to fill Phil's role. And that person has to be someone who intends to force his way into the starting lineup. Not a rild player.

I always thought "he who shall never be named again" was a great shout to be that guy.
Now that he and Rice have moved on to rivals, I am on board the Caicedo train.

We need a player who can push to be a starter immediately and make selection difficult for Pep. Right now, I don't see it yet.

 

[Dax777]

Arsenal can strengthen as much as they like but they still lack the mentality to be challengers again. They had a unique season just gone with Liverpool, Utd, Chelsea all having a mare of a season in reality. Now add in to the mix Newcastle and the CL and I suspect they’ll struggle and be fighting top four rather than top two.

If they had stood pat, yes. But they didn't. They are strengthening everywhere. Even if it doesn't work, which is possible, it won't be from a lack of trying.

They wilted under the pressure last season. But it'd be silly to think 1) they weren't as good as their early form and 2) They will continue to wilt.

Neither is a given.I think Havertz is so so. Had they saved that 65 million and added 20 to it to get Caicedo, I'd be running around screaming for Reinforcements.

Thank God they went Havertz. Hopefully his Chelsea form is the real him and not a Chelsea induced plateau-ing.

 

[Ghostofmerlin]

I said this with Cucurella (sp?) last summer, turns out that was a bullet dodged too. Rice is a great player but I don’t see Arsenal challenging this season with the added pressure of CL footy and other teams being back in the mix.
I can’t say he’s not worth £105m as i think had he signed for us the price would eventually of been worth it, but at Arsenal I just don’t see that he’ll be worth the outlay to them.

Agree. Two well scouted 50 million players are almost always better than a single 100 million player. We have largely built our squad in the 50-70 million range. And we are clearly the best.