16 July 2023 , 07:08
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Declan Rice has told Arsenal fans he wants to win the Premier League and Champions League - not just more FA Cups.
Rice, 24, has signed a five-year contract with the Gunners after completing his £105million transfer from West Ham. He's become the most expensive British footballer of all time and is Arsenal's third summer signing after Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
Rice will be under huge pressure to deliver at Arsenal, but his latest comments suggest he's up for the challenge. The Englishman has told supporters he wants to achieve success in the Premier League, something their loyal fanbase hasn't tasted since May 2004.
The last Arsenal team to win the title were the 'Invincibles', who did so under Arsene Wenger nearly two decades ago. Wenger and Thierry Henry, his talisman from that famous team, have even admitted Arsenal need to be successful in the Premier League.
Rice won the Conference League with West Ham last season, captaining them to their first major trophy in 43 years. During an interview with Arsenal's media team, he was asked what his ambitions are now after that European triumph.
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Rice replied: "Lifting that was really special, and the icing on the cake. But my ambitions now are to win with Arsenal again. I think this fanbase deserves it. There has been FA Cups, Community Shields, but now it’s time to go one step bigger and win the Premier League, win the Champions League, and I wouldn’t be here if I did not believe that.
"I believe in this squad. I believe in the manager. We have a real good energy around and when everyone is pushing in the right direction Arsenal will take some stopping. So I’m looking forward to this journey."
Arsenal have won five FA Cups and five Community Shields since their last Premier League title... and they have never won the Champions League. Rice's comments are similar to what Henry and Wenger admitted ahead of their 2017 FA Cup glory.
Wenger told reporters: "It [winning the FA Cup] would mean this season is not has gone as well as I had hoped at the start of the season because I start the season wanting to win the Premier League. You are never satisfied."
Henry echoed that view in a column for The Sun. He wrote: "Lifting the famous old trophy will not hide their failures in the league... When I went on holiday at the end of the season and I’d won the FA Cup, I’d still be disappointed if we hadn’t won the league."
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Getting the chance to play in the Champions League was one of the main reasons why Rice joined Arsenal. During last year's World Cup in Qatar, the midfielder admitted it was time for him to take the next step by playing in Europe's premier club competition.
Rice added: "[I'm] so excited. I’ve said for many years now that I’ve wanted to play in the Champions League. I’ve wanted to push myself at the biggest level. This opportunity at Arsenal has arisen where Arsenal are in the Champions League, it’s a great club.
"At the end of the day you get one career, and I want to be a successful as I can with Arsenal, make as many Champions League appearances as possible and hopefully one day get my hands on that trophy. Let’s push and see what happens."