Declan Rice sends Arsenal airplane image as ‘final piece of transfer rebuild’ revealed
Arsenal’s rebuild is not yet complete as Mikel Arteta prepares to bring in another midfield partner for Declan Rice.
Arsenal‘s front six could be unrecognisable to last season when they kick off the new campaign against Man United on 17 August, with all four of their new midfield and attacking signings in contention to start.
Kepa Arrizabalaga and Cristhian Mosquera have been signed with goalkeeping and central defensive depth in mind respectively, as Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard compete for the number six role.
Rice and Martin Odegaard are expected to line up either side of either Norgaard or Zubimendi, but it remains to be seen if both Viktor Gyokeres or Noni Madueke will be given the nod to start at Old Traffird.
Arteta’s £200million spending spree isn’t done yet with six new players through the doors and potentially another to arrive with Arsenal in talks to sign Eberechi Eze.
Rice thanks supporters as Arsenal rebuild continues
Eze’s prospective move to the Emirates is still on the cards this summer as Arsenal weigh up paying his £68million release clause at Crystal Palace, which would make him their most expensive addition so far.
The Palace playmaker would add further to Arsenal’s stocks both out wide on the left and in attacking midfield, but it’s unclear if he’d be played ahead of either Odegaard or Rice in an ‘advanced eight’ role.
Rice has become one of the Premier League’s best box-crashing midfielders since his move to Arsenal from West Ham in 2023, and he’s been front and centre of their pre-season preparations this summer.
Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the Far East takes them to Hong Kong next after wins over AC Milan and Newcastle in Singapore, and before their ‘friendly’ match against Tottenham, Rice posted on Instagram.
Rice‘s Instagram story post (29 July) was taken from the plane jetting over to Hong Kong, and he said: “thank you Singapore – Now onto [Hong Kong]”.
Eberechi Eze the final piece of the jigsaw for Arsenal?
Football Insider Verdict
Gyokeres’ transfer from Sporting CP will cost up to £64m if all add-on clauses are met, as Arteta looks to follow up a statement number nine signing with another player to take Arsenal’s vacant number 10 shirt.
Arsenal’s vast outlay this summer has seen Arteta try to close the gap on Premier League title-winners Liverpool, but they too have spent close to £300m with another £150m move planned for Alexander Isak.
Eze could prove to be the difference-maker as Arsenal look to finally get over the line and win a major honour next season, but the makeup of Arteta‘s frontline will be anyone’s guess if and when his transfer is completed.