06 August 2023 , 10:07
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Arsenal legend Ray Parlour believes that the three new additions to the current crop should be enough to help the Gunners end their 20-year wait for a Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta, with the help of sporting director and Parlour's old team-mate Edu, has overseen the arrivals of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber and has even hinted the summer spending may not stop there. Arsenal are currently linked with a move for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, while another right-sided attacker could also join.
All three of the summer signings made so far are expected to feature against Manchester City on Sunday under the iconic Wembley arch for this season's Community Shield. From Arsenal's perspective, the game presents a good chance for them to pit their wits against the side that beat them to the league title last term.
Arsenal topped the table for the overwhelming majority of the campaign, but saw their title tilt start to come unstuck around mid-April and City capitalised in trademark fashion. Parlour, however, feels that this coming season could have a different ending at the Emirates, providing the new boys hit the ground running.
"I expect Arsenal to be fighting for the title again," the Gunners icon told MailSport. "With three good signings so far in Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, Arsenal should be able to once again compete with City for the title.
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"The lads looked very sharp and I suspect, on the back of what I saw, we will see a really competitive game in the Community Shield against Manchester City."
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Declan Rice has been tipped to help Arsenal end their two decade wait for a league title by Ray Parlour (Getty Images)While the signings of Havertz and Timber made headlines, it was landing Rice's signature that really stole the show. For both a club and British record fee of £105million, the Gunners managed to pry the England international away from West Ham under the promise he'll be Arsenal's midfield lynchpin for years to come.
Parlour waxed lyrical about Rice's mentality, adding: "He has all the physical and technical attributes of a top Arsenal player, but I spoke to him on the tour and was fortunate enough to get an insight into his mentality. That convinced me he can cope with the £105million price tag and the demands of being an Arsenal player under pressure to challenge for honours."
His sentiment was echoed by Arteta earlier this week, who heaped praise on Rice by telling the media ahead of the Community Shield: “His leadership skills are unquestionable.
"When you meet him and you spend the first five minutes with him, you get the feeling and impression that he’s someone who is going to help so much, with the dressing room and the approach that we want to take into games and have the initiative in our way of living."