Declan Rice has confessed he was shocked to see just how sharp new Arsenal teammate Gabriel Martinelli was during pre-season.
Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham United this summer in a £105m deal after the midfielder rejected interest from elsewhere to become the most expensive addition to Mikel Arteta’s young side.
Rice made the move before Arsenal headed on their pre-season tour in the United States, and told TNT Sports that one teammate in particular really made an impact on him.
“When we were away in America, I’ve never seen someone so sharp in training as Martinelli,” he confessed. “He’s so sharp.
“Martinelli is faster than [Bukayo] Saka, 100%. Those two on the wings is frightening.”
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Rice also spoke on his expectations for Arsenal this season, as a club working it’s way back to winning trophies under Arteta.
“I feel like Arsenal – I said it when I signed – it’s about time Arsenal start competing for big trophies again,” he stressed.
“It’s so exciting with the young players we have, the manager, the energy around now with the fans and around the crowd. We demand that of ourselves. We’re not just here to play for Arsenal. It’s a big club playing at the Emirates in front of 60,000, we want to win now.”
Rice, who was captain of West Ham, also added that he wants to maintain his leadership role in the dressing room at his new club.
He added: “I feel like obviously we have some big international players here. International captains. Obviously, Martin [Odegaard] is our skipper. Because we have these other big characters as well it’s just for me to add. I’m not going to shy away from what I was at West Ham.
“If I’ve got something to say I’ll say it and if I can help anyone I’ll help, but of course there’s loads of other big captains as well. The leadership group is really good. It’s about just sticking together and trying to push each other as much as possible.”
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