Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice je otkrio da je izabrao prelazak na stadion Emirates ovog ljeta jer je osjetio da je projekt Mikela Artete bio uzbudljiviji od Manchester Cityja. Topnici se sada suočavaju s ekipom Pepa Guardiole u vrlo izjednačenoj utrci za naslov Premier lige, pri čemu Rice igra ključnu ulogu za svoj novi klub otkad je došao iz West Hama Uniteda prošlog ljeta. Engleski reprezentativac bio je zvijezda u West Hamu, ali je očigledno još više napredovao u svom vremenu u Arsenalu, a čini se da ga je privukao sjeverni Londoniji uzbudljiviji projekt nego onaj koji je bio dostupan u Cityju. Kada je upitan zašto je izabrao Arsenal kada je također imao priliku preći na stadion Etihad, Rice je rekao za The Athletic: “Ovaj projekt se činio uzbudljivijim i zato sam odlučio doći u Arsenal, jer vjerujem da ovdje idemo ka velikim stvarima.” Kako stvari sada stoje, City su blagi favoriti za naslov ispred Arsenala jer imaju utakmicu više koja bi ih mogla odvesti dva boda ispred svojih rivala ako pobijede. Nema sumnje da su obje ekipe trenutno u odličnoj formi, ali bi ovo moglo završiti na posljednji dan sezone, što znači da bi Rice možda ipak mogao osvojiti Premier liga trofej. Tada 25-godišnjak sigurno bi osjećao da je opravdao izbor Arsenala ispred Cityja, ali naravno njegovi komentari bi se mogli obiti o glavu jer će mnogi igrači smatrati da trenutno nema uzbudljivijih klubova u svijetu nego što su vladajući osvajači trostruke titule Guardiole. Rice je igrao na potencijal Arsenala umjesto toga, i ostaje vidjeti hoće li se pokazati u pravu što je tako postupio.
Rice odabrao Arsenal zbog uzbuđenog projekta ispred Cityja
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has revealed he chose a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer because he felt Mikel Arteta’s project was more exciting than Manchester City. The Gunners are now up against Pep Guardiola’s side in an extremely close-run race for the Premier League title, with Rice playing a key role for his new club since joining from West Ham United last summer. The England international had been a star performer at West Ham, but he’s arguably improved even more in his time at Arsenal, and it seems he was lured to north London by the more tempting project than the one on offer at City. When asked about choosing Arsenal when he also had the chance to move to the Etihad Stadium, Rice told The Athletic: “This project seemed more exciting and that’s why I chose to come to Arsenal, because I believe we’re on to big things here.” As things stand, City are the slight favourites for the title over Arsenal as they have a game in hand that could take them two points ahead of their rivals if they win. There’s no doubt that both teams are in excellent form right now, though, so this could go down to the final day of the season, meaning Rice might still get his hands on the Premier League trophy. The 25-year-old would then surely feel he was justified in choosing Arsenal over City, but of course his comments could come back to haunt him as so many players will feel there are fewer more exciting clubs in the world right now than Guardiola’s reigning treble winners. Rice gambled on Arsenal’s potential instead, and it remains to be seen if he’ll be proven right in doing so.
