Exclusive: Arsene Wenger feels £105m Declan Rice a 'good investment' for Arsenal, tips Gunners to win Premier League
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Updated 16/07/2023 at 11:17 GMT
Declan Rice finally became an Arsenal player when The Gunners wrapped up a deal to sign the England international midfielder from West Ham United. The £105 million transfer feel brings a weight of expectation, but former Gunners manager Arsene Wenger feels Rice will prove to be excellent value for money for the North London club. Wenger said he never had that sort of money available to spend.
Exclusive: 'We will the championship' - Wenger confident on Arsenal chances, hails Rice signing
Arsene Wenger has described Arsenal’s £105 million capture of Declan Rice as excellent value for money, but that he did not have those funds during his spell in charge.
Arsenal are looking to push on under coach Mikel Arteta, following their surprise second-placed finish to Manchester City in the Premier League last season.
England international Rice was a major summer priority for Arteta, and The Gunners got the deal over the line with West Ham this week.
It was a sizeable outlay, in completing the move Rice became the most expensive British transfer with the fee eclipsing the £100m Manchester City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish.
Wenger does not see it as a worry, as he feels the midfielder will prove to be excellent value for money - as will Jurrien Timber (£38m) and Kai Havertz (£65m).
“I think it is a good investment,” Wenger told Eurosport. “Overall, personally I think they have made good buys as they are players who are now mature, 23,24, and still young so can stay together for a few years.
“They will be under more pressure after last year, but they have learned a lot and they can show they can deal with that pressure now.”
Wenger said he would have made similar moves in the transfer market towards the end of his time at the club, but that he did not have money at his disposal.
“I had to cope with no money at all, so you have to find a different way,” Wenger said. “Arsenal is now in a good financial situation and bought what they think will win the championship.”
Asked for his thoughts on Arsenal’s chances in the Premier League next season, Wenger said: “I believe we will win the championship, it is as simple as that. I have less doubts for Arsenal than the cycling today.”
Wenger was speaking to Eurosport at the start of Stage 15 of the Tour de France, and he is relishing the general classification battle between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar in the Alps.
“I love cycling,” Wenger said. “In France everybody grows up with the Tour de France.
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“I am friends with Christian Prudhomme (general director of Tour de France) and he invited me to watch it from inside. It is a bit like going inside the dressing room of a football team.”
Looking at the stage to come on Sunday, Wenger said: “It is a battle between two exceptional champions.
“Everybody has the same thinking of who will win it.
“At some stage somebody has to make the difference. That is what we are all excited about.”
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