Following Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against West Ham, Martin Odegaard was seen signing an Arsenal shirt for Declan Rice, who has been linked with a move to the Gunners this summer. Despite Arsenal going 2-0 up within the first ten minutes, they were unable to secure a win and suffered a dent in their title bid. This result marks the second time in two matches that Arsenal have surrendered a two-goal lead, with Odegaard describing their play as ‘stupid’.
The footage of Odegaard signing a replica Arsenal top for Rice was captured by BeIN Sports, and while it is unclear why Rice made the request, it has excited some Arsenal fans who are hopeful that the north London side will sign the 24-year-old. One fan wrote on social media that Odegaard signing a shirt for Rice was ‘positive content’ that fans would like to see on their timeline. Another fan described Rice as the type of player that Arsenal needs, with a never-say-die attitude and a willingness to pull his teammates up during every game.
This is not the first time Rice has been seen conversing with an Arsenal player since reports emerged linking him with a move to the club. After England’s win over Ukraine last month, Oleksandr Zinchenko was seen speaking to Rice on the pitch. Additionally, Bukayo Saka and former Gunner Ian Wright were hailed by Arsenal fans for making Rice laugh during some downtime ahead of England’s most recent Euro 2024 qualifier.
It is understood that Arsenal and Chelsea are set to battle it out for Rice’s signature this summer, with Manchester United and Manchester City having previously been linked with the midfielder. Jamie Carragher has suggested that the rumours of Rice joining Arsenal are more than just speculation.
Rice has been with West Ham since he was 14 years old, having been let go by Chelsea as a youngster. He made his senior debut for West Ham in May 2017 at the age of 18 and has since become a key player for the club. He also boasts 41 caps for England.