Declan Rice ‘Blown Away’ by Arsenal Boss Mikel Arteta
Declan Rice, Arsenal’s record signing, has expressed his shock and admiration for Gunners boss Mikel Arteta. Since completing his £105m move from West Ham earlier this summer, Rice has been impressed by Arteta’s coaching methods and the winning mentality at the club.
Rice, who captained West Ham to Europa Conference League glory last season, is determined to help Arsenal win silverware this year. He believes that working with Arteta has already transformed his understanding of the game.
“In the last four weeks, I’ve grown so much already and learned so much about football that I hadn’t seen before,” Rice told TNT Sports. “I’m honestly seeing the game in a completely different way already. Tactically, on the ball, off the ball. I’m happy to know I’m learning so much because I’m trying to push myself to learn.”
The midfielder credits Arteta for his development, stating that working with him on a daily basis has taken his game to another level. Rice is impressed by Arteta’s attention to detail and his focus on improving the players individually and collectively.
“It’s just the finer details of what he goes into, so there are no excuses on matchday. You can’t say, ‘we’ve not worked on this or that’,” Rice explained. “You’re given everything and it’s literally down to you to go and perform. The finer details you go into are on another level, and I’ve never seen that before.”
Rice also highlighted the winning mentality instilled in the club since his arrival. He was surprised by how much winning is emphasized at Arsenal and how Arteta constantly reminds the players about their potential to be one of the best teams in the world.
“From the moment I walked in the door, the thing that shocked me most is how much [winning] is drilled into the club, and the way the manager is drilling it into the players about winning, and not being far off being one of the best teams in the world,” Rice said. “That’s what excites me and that’s why I came to Arsenal; to win things, to play under Mikel, and play with these players. It’s such an exciting project to join.”
Rice made his official Arsenal debut in the Community Shield final against Manchester City, which Arsenal won on penalties. The Gunners will kick-start their Premier League campaign with a home match against Nottingham Forest.
It is expected that Arteta will field a similar lineup to the one that started in the Community Shield final, with summer signing Kai Havertz filling in for the injured Gabriel Jesus up front.
Arsenal fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the season, hoping that Rice’s arrival and Arteta’s coaching will lead to a successful campaign. The club came close to winning the Premier League last season, finishing just behind Manchester City with 84 points.
As Rice settles into his new team and continues to learn from Arteta, Arsenal supporters are optimistic about their chances of lifting trophies this season. The combination of Rice’s talent and Arteta’s coaching expertise could be the winning formula Arsenal needs to return to their former glory.
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In conclusion, Declan Rice’s revelation about his admiration for Mikel Arteta and his excitement about playing for Arsenal provides a glimpse into the positive atmosphere at the club. With Rice’s talent and Arteta’s coaching, Arsenal fans have reason to be hopeful for a successful season ahead.