Arsenal pulled off a coup last season as they beat Manchester City to the signing of Declan Rice for a club-record fee.
This was billed as a statement signing, and one which could take Arsenal another step closer to winning major trophies.
Arsenal fell just short of the Premier League title last season, with the Gunners finishing two points behind Man City, and they will hope to kick-start their campaign with a victory over Chelsea to keep themselves in the race.
There is more pressure on Arsenal to win silverware this season, and Rice has now admitted that his side simply have to taste some glory this year.
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Declan Rice says Arsenal must win trophies
Speaking in an interview with Arsenal Invincible Freddie Ljungberg, Rice was asked about the importance of winning silverware, and he was adamant that his side has to deliver.
“So important. I say that strongly,” Rice replied.
“This team has been close now in the Premier League for the last two years. Last year was the first season back in the Champions League and we got to the quarter-finals but went out of the cups early.
“Now we’re into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup already, so this team and the squad of players we have, if you look at teams like Man City and Liverpool who have been competing for trophies for the last few years because their players are consistently playing in these games, not moaning about it, just getting on with it and having that mentality to win.
Rice has admitted his confidence in Mikel Arteta, and wants to repay the faith he has shown in his team.
“I see us train every day, I see how much the manager puts into us. To win something here is so important. We really want it,” he added.
“You end up having the best days and nights or your life when you win stuff. It’s really important this year we can win something.”
Freddie Ljungberg believes trophy is important for Arsenal
Ljungberg has also emphasised the importance of winning, and revealed that he spoke with former Arsenal captain Tony Adams about the current side’s chances.
“I spoke to Tony Adams about it. It’s so important to get that first trophy, then it rolls,” Ljungberg told Rice.
Rice then expressed his confidence that silverware will arrive at the Emirates Stadium before too long.
“Exactly, that could easily happen with the quality I see every day and how we are as people,” Rice responded.
“The mentality of this team, we’re so driven to want to win and succeed, I think the last two years with the Premier League has been really tough, but you can only keep knocking and in the end you will be successful.
“I’m sure positive things are coming for this club. It’s been so positive over the last four or five years from where it was before that. We just need to stick with each other and keep believing in ourselves.”
Rice is an injury doubt for the Chelsea clash, and they will hope he is fit to start in this important clash.
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