Declan Rice has now shared the five things the midfielder wants to achieve in his first season at Emirates Stadium as Arsenal eye winning the 2023/24 Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta made Rice the Gunners’ new club-record signing earlier in July after prising the 24-year-old from West Ham United. Arsenal paid their London rivals an initial £100m, rising to £105m after add-ons, for their captain. Rice also put pen to paper on a five-year contract.
His move to Emirates Stadium brought one of the Premier League’s best midfielders to north London. Rice had developed a supreme reputation in east London for his genius in the Irons’ engine room. His reading of the game and distribution of the ball were central to their style.
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Declan Rice wants to help Arsenal win the Premier League title
Life with Arsenal has already astounded Rice compared to what he had become accustomed to at West Ham. The midfielder has also struck a surprising bond with Leandro Trossard over the Gunners’ pre-season tour of America. And Rice hopes that his move will return trophies.
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Rice believes that it is time to add another Premier League title to Arsenal’s trophy record in the 2023/24 season. Arsene Wenger oversaw their last top-flight title back in 03/04 with the Invincibles. They have since finished second just three times and third in four further terms.
Arsenal went close to ending their Premier League title drought in 2022/23. But Manchester City pipped the Gunners to the crown with three matches to spare after overhauling Arteta’s team. The north London natives even sat atop the table for 248 days throughout the season.
Declan Rice outlines his aims for his first season with Arsenal
But Rice does not only want to help Arsenal deliver a first Premier League title since moving to the Emirates. He has also outlined five personal goals to achieve during the 23/24 season.
“It’s time now,” Rice has told Sky Sports. “Arsenal under Mikel have won Community Shields [and] FA Cups but I think now, at this club – it’s a massive club – it’s [a] constant pressure of delivering titles and it’s been such a long time now since Arsenal won a Premier League.
“Last year was so close. I feel like we’re better off now this year learning from that experience. So, I think that’s definitely a target. And, of course, you’re in the Champions League and you go in the Champions League to win it. You don’t go in just to take part.
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“I think once all of that clicks, once we get those first couple of games under our belt and things start to flow, I really believe in this squad. I believe in the manager and, of course, with me, as well.
“I just want to improve, want to learn, want to get better [and] want to understand how the manager wants to play. I want to understand the others and how they play.
“I’m sure once all that comes together, I’ll feel exactly how I want to feel in terms of why I came to Arsenal to improve. So, [I’m] just hoping it’s a successful season but time will tell.”
Declan Rice hit new levels to seal his transfer from West Ham
Arsenal moved to sign Rice early on in the summer transfer window after he achieved new levels with West Ham last season. Yet the 43-cap England international will encourage the Gunners and the Emirates Stadium fanbase that he still believes more is possible for him.
Rice was regularly a cut above his colleagues at London Stadium and the main man in claret-and-blue. He also developed a greater presence as a box-to-box player through the 2022/23 season. While his runs into the final third gave David Moyes vastly greater tactical freedom.
The 22/23 Premier League term alone saw Rice match his goal tally from his three previous full campaigns. He hit four goals in 37 games to equal his tally from his previous 106 outings. Rice also offered two assists in 22/23 to reach 10, and 10 goals, in 204 career league games.