Arsenal Profit from £135m Masterstroke Despite Losing to Tottenham
Club captain Odegaard has been a revelation since his £30 million move from Real Madrid in 2021, following a productive loan spell in north London. He has excelled despite injury issues, tallying seven assists and four goals. Rice, who moved to Arsenal for £105 million from West Ham in the summer, has also been influential with six goals and seven assists. His defensive qualities have been praised as much as his attacking play.
The combined £135 million spent on Odegaard and Rice is now considered excellent value given their current form. Despite their contributions, the transfer policy of Edu and Arteta has been vindicated. The club’s pursuit of Rice as one of their main transfer targets in 2021 reflects Arteta’s recognition of the player’s leadership qualities, which are seen as critical to the team’s success in the title race. Arteta has highlighted Rice’s qualities, emphasizing his ability to provide guidance and leadership on the field.
He described Rice as a natural leader, with the potential to become an incredible player for Arsenal, expressing his belief in the player’s foundations. The recent victory over Chelsea has increased pressure on City in the title race, despite Pep Guardiola’s side having a game in hand. If the Gunners go on to win their first Premier League title in 20 years, the value of their recent signings will be further emphasized.
