Saka explains how he helped seal Arsenal transfer after speaking for Arteta
Arsenal superstar Bukayo Saka has shed light on the part he played in persuading Declan Rice to join the Gunners this summer.
Mikel Arteta's men pulled off one of the signings of the summer when they landed Rice's signature from West Ham for a club and then-British record fee of £105million, including add-ons. As with any deal worth such a figure, it was not a simple process for Arsenal, who had to deal with both negotiations with the Hammers and fend off interest from reigning champions Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola's side actually submitted a bid of their own, thought to have been worth around the £90m mark, but when Arsenal surpassed £100m City are believed to have walked away from any potential deal. While that was of course good news for the Gunners, it has since emerged that Arteta may have one of his own to thank for their part in the transfer.
Saka has discussed how he held talks of his own with Rice regarding the switch as he told talkSPORT: "Obviously he’d ask a few questions and I’d answer them, but yeah, I’d just try to give him the reassurance that he’d be coming to the right club and that the future is exciting for us. If he joined us, he’d make us better and that yeah, we can definitely achieve things."
Rice has already sealed his place in the hearts of the Arsenal faithful after he netted a 96th-minute winner against Manchester United last Sunday. Following his last-gasp heroics, Saka waxed lyrical about both his new Gunners colleague and the response his goal got from the Emirates crowd.
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“That was amazing, I think I’ve watched his goal back 20 times," Saka confessed. "It was an unbelievable moment for him and his family. Even the stadium, he said it was crazy when he felt the atmosphere.
"He’s right though, it’s really special to play there. I’m just happy he’s happy and that he’s performing, and he’s got his first goal as well, I don’t think there’s a better moment for him to get his first goal. So yeah, I’m happy for him."
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Bukayo Saka played his part in persuading Declan Rice to join ArsenalRice's face was quite the picture come full-time after the win over United, with the England ace beaming a smile that could be seen from every seat in the Emirates as the stadium DJ blared out 'Ice, Ice Baby' in celebration.
Neither Rice nor Saka had too much time to dwell on the victory however, as both were required to report for international duty the very next day as England gear up for games against Ukraine and Scotland.
While Rice is the man of the moment at Arsenal, 22-year-old Saka was recently named England men's player of the year for the second season running. Arsenal have established quite the English core, with the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah lining up alongside the aforementioned duo.
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