Declan Rice is on his way to being Arsenal's new Patrick Vieira
Steve Kay
- 1 Nov 2023 14:30 GMT
- 3 min read
Arsenal's new £105 million summer signing, Declan Rice, is already being compared to Gunners legend and invincible Patrick Vieira by some quarters after just nine games in the Premier League and a handful of Champions League matches.
The former West Ham midfielder used to study videos of the French World Cup winner back in 2021, in the hope that in time he would become a complete footballer.
Arsenal fans have long been waiting, in fact, for 18 years for the new Patrick Vieira to step into the famous red and white shirt.
READ MORE: Arsenal and Chelsea target €92m ‘risk and reward’ signing
But the big question is, can the England international emulate what the Senegalese-born former Gunners captain did in his nine years at the club when he helped Arsenal achieve a sustained period of success, lifting four FA Cups and three league titles, including one unbeaten? He was named in the Premier League PFA Team of the Year for six consecutive years from 1999 to 2004.
Can Rice be the new Vieira?
Early indications would tell us that Rice - who FootballTransfer’s Expected Transfers algorithm (ETV) ranks at €88.4 million - can be that Vieira-type figure for Arsenal. He has had an excellent start to the season in the Premier League, where already the fee Arsenal paid for the all-around midfielder is looking to be money well spent.
Arsenal is also back in the Champions League, seven years after their last qualification for the competition. That will certainly help the cause in aiding Rice to step into the boots of Vieira, who is still worshipped even now by the adoring Arsenal fans. It will take some doing to fill the Arsenal legends’ boots, but Rice is looking every bit the part and his trajectory looks very positive indeed.
