Ray Parlour says Arsenal have "definitely" completed first summer transfer

26 April 2023 , 15:22

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Ray Parlour believes Declan Rice will be an Arsenal player next season (Image: talkSPORT)

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has claimed Declan Rice will "definitely" join the Gunners this summer, with the West Ham midfielder heavily linked with a move away from the London Stadium.

Arsenal are among those interested in his services and will be able to offer him the opportunity to play Champions League football, with Mikel Arteta's side set to compete in Europe's premier cup competition next season for the first time in five years.

And Parlour is confident Rice will make the switch to the Emirates, declaring on David Seaman's podcast 'Seaman Says' : "He'll be at Arsenal next year! He's definitely going to be at Arsenal next year."

Parlour has previously said he feels Rice would be a "fantastic signing" for Arsenal, but suggested the England international needs to "get forward a little bit more". Speaking to the Sun last month, he said: "Sometimes you have to get forward a little bit more because I always think [when it comes to] holding midfielders there'll be occasions in a game where you do get past your other midfielder and it's just a bit of common sense for me that the other midfielder fills in for you.

"That's what I used to do when we played for Arsenal, because you know, not everybody's got a set position at times, you'll see yourself in a different part of the pitch. And that's where the other team-mates have got to say, 'Right, he's out of position there but we fill in for him and then there’s no problem'.

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"So I think Declan Rice definitely can get forward a little bit more. At any team he goes into he would make them stronger, so if Arsenal have got a chance to maybe buy Declan Rice, especially if they can win the league this year, that would be a fantastic signing. But I'm sure there's a big queue of people waiting to see where he's going in the summer."

Rice has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal this summer (CameraSport via Getty Images)

And fellow ex-Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, who was once a teammate of Rice's at West Ham and now coaches the Gunners' under-18s side, believes Arteta is the perfect manager to help Rice continue developing. He told PA Sport: "He's a midfielder who can do anything.

"Anyone who supports any club would want Dec to join. If I'm talking from a selfish point of view, in north London, I think he would be very good under Mikel's watch. Mikel would develop him, bring him on even more and he would be massive for the team as well.

"I have had conversations with Dec and told him what he is doing in unbelievable, he is captain of a big Premier League club and is always learning. I'm looking forward to wherever he goes. I hope it is Arsenal, it would be a massive signing and a perfect fit."

Matthew Cooper