23 November 2023 , 21:57
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Arsenal's pursuit of Declan Rice dominated the summer transfer window before the Gunners eventually landed their man for £105million.
Mikel Arteta was more than willing to break the bank for the West Ham midfielder for a number of reasons. As well as Rice's supreme technical quality, the Gunners boss was desperate to add the England international's leadership to the Arsenal ranks, especially in the absence of Grant Xhaka who left for Bayer Leverkusen.
Rice spent the entirety of the 2022/23 season as West Ham's captain, though he had plenty of experience at donning the armband before that as Mark Noble's vice-captain in east London. Arteta is rumoured to have touted Rice as a future Arsenal skipper.
After years of having his mentality, temperament and ability to lead a dressing room praised at club level, Rice has since seen it recognised in the international set-up with England. According to Mail Sport, Rice has been promoted to England's senior leadership group, further enforcing Arteta's theory he could one day don the armband for the Gunners.
The committee is made up of a select group of players who take on the role of a captain during international breaks. The Arsenal ace joins skipper Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Harry Maguire, Kyle Walker and Jordan Henderson as players Southgate views as the most senior within the Three Lions squad.
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Rice is an ever-present in the England side and remains one of the first names on the teamsheet. The promotion may ease Rice's fears over his place in Southgate's squad for Euro 2024.
Despite being widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, the 24-year-old claimed that "nothing is guaranteed" when discussing his chances of making the final 23-man crop.
HAVE YOUR SAY!Will Rice one day captain his club and country? Comment below
Declan Rice is rumoured to have been promoted into England's senior leadership group"It's always in our minds that when we go back to our club, Gareth is always attending games, Steve [Holland] is always attending games and you need to be at your best, Rice told reporters ahead of England's trip to North Macedonia last Monday. "Nothing is guaranteed.
"Going into a major tournament, you need to be fit, you need to be ready and you need to be well prepared. Like he said, I think it is the shortest squad this time, whereas the World Cup it was a 26-man squad and obviously now it is a 23-man squad.
"You need to be at your best to get picked for that. So, I am sure the boys will do everything they can to be on the plane to Germany."