22 Jun 2023 14:48:11
Looks like Man City have put a bid in for Rice now at £100m.
Personally I can't understand that figure for Rice but then again same old Arsenal dragging their heels again.!

1.) 22 Jun 2023
22 Jun 2023 15:32:53
We should have got this sorted before Gundogan made his decision to leave. I fully expect City to now get Rice.
Surely he should have been a priority over Havertz.

2.) 22 Jun 2023
22 Jun 2023 16:15:24
Kind to down to Rice now remember with Rodri being city's 1st Choice DM he won't get the same game time as he would as a 1st choicer with us. All 50/ 50 West Ham want Phillips but Phillips said we wanted to stay so all up in the air I feel atm. Whatever happens we should not waste time and go into a bidding war though as there will only be one winner there. Maybe we should edge our bets here and go back in for Caicedo.

3.) 22 Jun 2023
22 Jun 2023 16:31:37
I like a lot of Gooners are a bit puzzled by Havertz but there must be a game plan for him to shine. I cannot believe that we would spend over 65m and him not bringing something to the table, so let's see what happens next season.
As for Rice, I wasn't fully convinced that he was worth the money.75 to 85m but not 100m
I always thought if City came in for him he would drop us like a hot potato.
I have lost count how many times we do this, Suarez, Higuan, Vlahovic, Mudryk and now apparently Rice.
Anyway people what will be will be.

4.) 22 Jun 2023
22 Jun 2023 18:43:44
If he'd rather go to city and collect his winners medals from the bench, so be it.

5.) 22 Jun 2023
22 Jun 2023 18:51:10
Whatever will be will be .

6.) 22 Jun 2023
22 Jun 2023 18:51:44
Haha Bill just seen you had the same thoughts ;)

7.) 22 Jun 2023
22 Jun 2023 20:06:13
This time last year lots of Arsenal fans on this page were going balistc because Spurs were doing lots of early business and spending big style while Arsenal were according to them doing absolutely nothing, turns our those fans were getting themselves all upset about nothing this time last year and everything turned out far better than they could possibly have imagined.

Could history be repeating itself concerning Rice and everything else that hasn't actually happened or not happened yet?

8.) 22 Jun 2023
22 Jun 2023 20:16:18
Great minds think alike Sally ????.

9.) 23 Jun 2023
23 Jun 2023 01:37:53
I have a feeling he will choose first team football and staying in London.

10.) 23 Jun 2023
23 Jun 2023 09:32:56
By the team we turn to Caicedo, Chelsea may have fixed up things with him.

11.) 23 Jun 2023
23 Jun 2023 10:28:35
G62 and your point being! If we hadn’t of pussy footed about rice would be ours already, I still think it’s 50/ 50 but also in my eyes it should have been done, westham set a transfer price for a reason, you don’t go to curry’s and pay lower for a tv that’s worth 1200 that’s the price you pay.

12.) 23 Jun 2023
23 Jun 2023 16:28:09
I think what 62’s saying Jelfy is that peeps were givin off about us being quite early on last year whilst everyone else were making moves n rumours about there club …a year on and we're the noisiest in the transfer market early on n yet the same bodies are havin a dig. #arsenalcandonorightinsomeeyes
The curry’s analogy is flawed because let’s be honest here Rice isn’t worth £100m plain n simple, good players Yes but £100m is eye watering mate. Westham have been offered a very fair price in my opinion…shouldn’t be held to ransom for someone else’s greed.
❤️?.

13.) 23 Jun 2023
23 Jun 2023 16:52:54
Hang on - not many complaints on here when we dished out 72 million for Pepe - yet 100 million for a seasoned PL player who is a starter for England and now it’s too much money ……clearly City don’t think he’s over valued, no settling in time for Rice .

We look foolish, incredibly so in my opinion.

14.) 23 Jun 2023
23 Jun 2023 17:18:55
Pepe was an expensive fu**-up who we gambled on because of one exceptional season he had, could have gone either way. he could have lit up the league with the talent he has but unfortunately it never came to fruition.
City don’t count as they cheat for there pockets to be ridiculously deep so can spend whatever it takes, Kalvin Phillips £50m Comes to mind n he’s done what exactly?
BamBam please don’t tell me you woulda paid £100m for J. Henderson 3/ 4 years ago as he was England regular and seasoned?
I’m not saying Rice isn’t a good player, not at all but I don’t think he’s in the same league as Bellingham and didn’t he just move for £5m more than we’re bidding for Rice?

15.) 23 Jun 2023
23 Jun 2023 17:24:55
My point is Welsh, what do you actually know other than what the papers, sky and social media have told you to think and believe? None of us any of the usual suspect rumour peddlers are privy to what is going on behind closed doors.

Our choices are to wait and see what really happens in the real world or get ourselves all wound up and angry because of what those who have huge amounts of previous for making stuff up tell us to think and believe. Wait and see where Rice genuinely goes and if that place is Arsenal then what's to be upset about? and if he genuinely ends up elsewhere then surely that's the time to allow yourself to be angry and upset, if that's what you really want to do.

16.) 23 Jun 2023
23 Jun 2023 17:42:34
Hi Banbury, was 72 million our opening offer for Pepe or was it the final figure that Arsenal and his previous Club agreed on. Few buying clubs open negotiations with their absolute maximum offer and few selling clubs take the first bid they get, it's usually a negotiation dance before the final deal is done. I'm pretty sure the club are doing all they can to get a player virtually everyone including the manager wants them to get but equally they will be looking to do a deal that leaves as much left on the transfer kitty as possible, that's both natural and what we'd expect them to do so as to make the best possible window happen for us and them. None of would really want the club to say " we spent every penny on Rice " tha tha that's all folks "

17.) 23 Jun 2023
23 Jun 2023 18:18:05
Jeggy - Phillips was never ever ever going to get into that city side was he? It’s not about if City chest or not they are nothing to do with us but why let them get the signing, by paying what the asking price is? That would be crazy . Not sure where you are getting the 100 million for Henderson 4 years ago?

62 it was broadcast on media that we had 150-200 million to spend so why would they say that’s it folks? we got 159 million for finishing runners up, couple that with the sale of players we have more than just the asking price for Rice I know xx.

18.) 23 Jun 2023
23 Jun 2023 18:42:26
I don’t think if we moved quicker it would have made any difference. West Ham want as much money as possible, and you don’t get that by selling quickly to the first bidder. You want at least two bidders to set a price, not one, after all, it’s the 2nd from last bidder that helps set the price at an auction, not the actual winner. If Rice wants to come to us, he will come, as we are in the ballpark over price and no doubt wages. Is he worth £100m, I would say no. Is he worth more to us than he is to Man City, based on our current midfields, I would say yes.

19.) 23 Jun 2023
23 Jun 2023 19:11:43
I agree Epping if Rice wants to come to Arsenal it will happen, be it this summer for our maximum offer or next summer for free, obviously West Ham don't want the latter to happen so my guess is he will at some stage this summer become a gooner. Neither West Ham or City cam make Rice go anywhere he doesn't want to go, there are human rights laws that prevent that happening in most countries around the world ?.

20.) 23 Jun 2023
23 Jun 2023 20:11:23
Hi Banbury mate, was it Arsenal that stated the 150m to 200m figure mate? I don't know if it was or not.

21.) 23 Jun 2023
23 Jun 2023 20:21:10
BamBam not in-front of Rodri he ain’t, that’s why I’m kinda saying City are in there own league when it comes to spending power, paying £50m for a bang average English player with caps to make up the squad . But I see where your coming from if we’re only £10m away from the asking price n what City have apparently bid.
Just picking Henderson as he’s English, seasoned and was an international regular (3/ 4yrs ago) . say he’s worth £60m (fiction ofcourse ?) but Liverpool wanted £100m. would you just pay that because the richest club in the league is willing to?
I’ll be happy if we got Rice 100% but there’s also players out there that are similar for more realistic prices meaning beefing the squad with better players.

22.) 23 Jun 2023
23 Jun 2023 21:42:18
Hi Jeg mate I'd love us to sign Rice at a reasonable and realistic price, I'd say 100m is probably top of that realistic price range for me personally, I wouldn't want us to pay 130m just to pip city in order to win some symbolic competition, I'd rather move to different targets if Arsenal's absolute maximum valuation has been rejected by West Ham. Missing out on Mudryk and moving onto Trossard hasn't been a bad substitute option so far. Yes Rice is of course a more established and premier league proven player than Mudryk but there are always bargains to be had if you know where to look. Well Brighton seem to be able to keep finding them anyway before selling them on for huge profits to bigger clubs. Rice is an excellent player I'd love to see at Arsenal but he's not the only excellent player that's looking to move this summer.

23.) 24 Jun 2023
24 Jun 2023 08:23:41
This is crazy talk. No way Rice is worth anywhere close to 100 million. He's, at best, worth about 40-45. Ridiculous valuation when you look around at other transfers. Mac Allister went to Pool for under 40 million. Sure, he's good in a tackle but seems clumsy with the ball at his feet.

Ed01, have you ever done a profile on this lad? If you have where can I find it? Also, what's your take on the price tag?

{Ed001's Note - I don't know if I have, but I think I will do one tomorrow. As for his price tag, he is not just an excellent player, who is also capable of playing multiple positions, but a leader too. Added to them not wanting to sell him and the homegrown premium, I think he is worth a lot more than you are suggesting. You can't compare the price of Mac Allister, it was a totally different situation.}

24.) 24 Jun 2023
24 Jun 2023 10:19:16
Ok, maybe a little flippant with the 40-45, but I'm finding it really hard to find a 100 million quid player in him from what I've seen.

Looking forward to your profile on him.

{Ed001's Note - I like him personally. Leaders like him are few and far between and make the difference between winning a title or bottling it when things get tough.}

25.) 24 Jun 2023
24 Jun 2023 11:52:26
I don't think Arsenal have had a real proper on field genral who both lead by example and was equally vocally demanding of all his 10 teammates since Tony Adams. Mergerslaker had all the mouth but set an awful example with his own actions and others have tried to lead by example but lacked the ability to command those around them verbally. Anyone who could bring what Adams brought would be worth blowing the entire budget on. I'm not sure if Rice currently pasess the Adams test but if he was to do so at Arsenal it really would definitely be time to fasten our seat belts and enjoy the ride.

26.) 24 Jun 2023
24 Jun 2023 14:05:10
If we sign Rice we in my opinion we solidify ourselves as the main rival to City. That’s how good he is and that’s what you’re paying for.
To argue whether he’s worth the same as Bellingham is redundant, they play different roles.
I would argue Rice is better in what he does for the collective and as Ed quite rightly points out, he’s a born leader. You can’t put a price on that, especially with some of our better players on the ball who look lost when it came to stepping up when it counted at the tail end of last season.
A Declan Rice in your team with so the selfless grafting and then bring dynamism that will make Saka, Odegaard and Martinelli even better players.
This is what Arteta knows and this is what we are paying for.
On a side note, forget about the fee, you’re buying a player not near his prime who will only get better at this club, he’ll be worth €140 even if he seeks a move from us with only one year on his contract.
Believe that.

27.) 24 Jun 2023
24 Jun 2023 18:54:50
Do we actually know for a genuine fact how much it will take West Ham to part with Rice Banbury mate, I've seen 100 to 120 million peddled but have West Ham officially stated any price themselves? I doubt they have or will because they naturally want as much as they can get, Hammers fans wouldn't expect less of them. Personally I can't see the point in allowing ourselves to get wound up by twitter Facebook Sky or any tabloid claims when we all know for a fact they invent far far more stories than they genuinely know anything truthful about. We only have to Google (Arsenal transfer rumours round up 2022) to remind ourselves of the stories the usual suspects made up last summer. Personally I think the Arsenal board have shown huge ambition and that they are prepared to invest heavily on players in recent years, I've no idea where the £200m budget came from, was it from our board themselves? I genuinely don't know the answer to that question.