Arsenal or Manchester City: Where Should Declan Rice Go?

After conquering the Europa Conference League with West Ham, Declan Rice now has both Arsenal and Manchester City eyeing his signature.

It was long thought that after this season, Declan Rice would go to North London and play for Arsenal. Even last summer, he was the target of transfer rumors from numerous clubs in the Premier League but decided to remain loyal to the Hammers and stay another year in West London. Arsenal, after fumbling around and putting in transfer offers that they should have known would get turned down, now find themselves playing a dangerous game. Enter Manchester City.

So, if both Manchester City and Arsenal propose a proper fee to West Ham for the 24-year-old, where should he choose?

Manchester City’s Case: 

Perennial winners

There’s a lot to like about Manchester City if you are Declan Rice. They are coming off their best season ever under Pep Guardiola when you look at what they achieved. City bagged the Premier League after chasing down suspected winners in Arsenal, the FA Cup, and the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history. If Rice wants to add to his trophy cabinet, the better bet here for the next few years would seem to be Manchester City, plain and simple.

Heck, Kalvin Phillips joined City last summer, barely got a sniff of playing time, and got to win the treble in his first season. Surely it wasn’t the most satisfying watching most of the season from the bench, but like it or not, Kalvin Phillips is a Premier League and FA Cup Winner along with a European Champion. Rice will definitely command a bigger part in any future success for City, but it’s undeniable that trophies attract talent.

It is worth pointing out that with Ilkay Gundogan all but confirmed to Barcelona and Bernardo Silva possibly leaving the Etihad, Rice could find himself with more minutes than he thinks.

Players

Now, from a squad perspective, playing alongside the talent that lies in that Manchester City side is mouthwatering to even think about. Getting to be mentored by players like Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri in midfield could do wonders for a player who is already incredibly talented. Spraying balls out to guys like Riyad Mahrez (if he stays), Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and on occasion feeding Erling Haaland or Julian Alvarez, what a dream.

Pep

Let’s not forget to mention that Rice could get the chance to be coached by one of the greatest managers in history – Pep Guardiola. Guardiola took gifted players like Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Sergio Aguero, and even De Bruyne, and took them all up a notch as he helped round out their games and improve their understanding of the beautiful game as he sees it. To think that Declan Rice could improve is a frightening thought, and yet its true. Who better to help Rice grow than Pep Guardiola himself?

Arsenal’s Case:

Location

London is home for Declan Rice, and being able to stay put, close to friends and family is no small thought to overlook. Assuming the majority of his support system lies in London, staying close to home while you are still young and in such a huge moment in your career could be incredibly beneficial from a personal point of view.

Role

At Arsenal, Rice would undoubtedly be the main man in his position, with rumors of a Partey exit, he would get all the playing time his body could afford through a grueling season, especially with Arsenal back in the Champions League. Being the guy to help Arsenal lift their first Premier League trophy and find the summit once more should turn his head. While City have now accomplished just about all there is in club football, Arsenal have a young squad, hungry to find their stride and get over the finish line in the league and beyond. Why should he not trust the process?

Mikel Arteta has made it clear he thinks the world of Declan Rice, and that kind of love and appreciation influence these kinds of big decisions.

Project

As mentioned above, Arsenal are very much not the finished product. We saw this loud and clear towards the business end of last season. Their squad suddenly looked thin, and out of gas, and injuries started to take a toll on their results. However, with Rice inserted into midfield, they get that much closer to achieving what they aspire to. Since Mikel Arteta took over in December 2019, they have shown steady and now sudden signs of growth as a unit. This is still an incredibly young side, and so is Declan Rice. Arsenal and Rice can continue to grow together for years to come.

Arsenal is the team that Declan Rice has his eyes on for quite some time now. While it would be hard to blame him for having his head turned by Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, it seems Rice may have already hinted at where he would likely end up at the end of this transfer saga.