Mikel Arteta told to replace Arsenal star who has 'cost' side with Declan Rice

04 May 2023 , 09:56

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Mikel Arteta told to replace Arsenal star who has 'cost' side with Declan Rice

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been urged to replace Granit Xhaka with Declan Rice after the Switzerland star was accused of costing the Gunners this season.

For the majority of the campaign, Xhaka has earned plenty of plaudits and praise, rather than the kind of scathing reviews that have plagued most of his Arsenal career. The Switzerland international has contributed positively in an attacking sense this term and remains one of the first names on Arteta's team-sheet despite seeing his role slightly changed.

And yet, he clearly hasn't convinced everybody. Former West Ham goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has advised the Gunners to try and land Rice's signature and then use the England international to slowly phase Xhaka out of the fold at the Emirates.

Hislop exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone: "You look at where Declan Rice could go this summer; you know, if you were to pick him out of this West Ham team right now and place him elsewhere... where does he fit best? Arsenal is a clear option.

"Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka hold those positions right now, and the latter, while he's been good this season, I think at times he's cost Arsenal - particularly against Liverpool a few weeks back. Maybe it's time to move away from Xhaka, in which case Rice is a good fit."

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The incident at Anfield Hislop is referring to is when Xhaka may have been guilty of getting the Liverpool faithful riled up by clashing with Trent Alexander-Arnold at a time when Arsenal had the game in the palm of their hand.

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Arsenal have been told to replace Granit Xhaka with West Ham's Declan Rice

Xhaka hasn't quite managed to eradicate his ill-temper entirely from his game, while Rice is more often than not one of the cooler heads.

The West Ham captain has never received a red card in his Premier League career.

All of the speculation ahead of the summer window would suggest Rice is certainly a target of Arsenal's and with Chelsea looking way off the pace, the Gunners may have a fairly clear run at the England international.

Rice has previously sung the praises of both Arsenal and Arteta, only adding further fuel to the fire regarding talk of his potential move to the Emirates.

After Arsenal had beaten the Hammers 3-1 on Boxing Day last year, Rice was asked if the Gunners could go the distance and end their 19-year wait for a league title.

"100 per cent," Rice said back in December. "They are a top team. You can see they are coached incredibly well, have a lot of attacking talent, a young squad and they can go the whole way for sure."

Josh O'Brien