Mikel Arteta already has a genius new nickname for Declan Rice less than a week after leaving West Ham for Arsenal.
The dust is slowly settling on the long-running saga that was Declan Rice’s move from West Ham to Arsenal.
The deal was finally done last Saturday for a British record £105m. It was also a record sale for West Ham and record buy for Arsenal.
It’s fair to say there’s been no love lost between some Hammers and Gunners fans since.
Many West Ham fans feel somewhat let down by Rice’s push to join a London rival.
Mikel Arteta already has a genius new nickname for Declan Rice less than a week after leaving West Ham for Arsenal
And some Arsenal supporters have been goading West Ham with relish about taking their crown jewel.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has tried to keep things civil with his comments on West Ham since sealing the deal for Rice.
Rice cited Arteta as one of the key reasons he has joined Arsenal from West Ham. And it is easy to see why for anyone who has watched Arteta behind the scenes in the All Or Nothing Amazon documentary on the Gunners.
Indeed on signing for Arsenal, Rice lauded Arteta and admitted he was captivated by the manager when watching that series.
The midfielder was undoubtedly West Ham’s talisman. And in his time at the club he was nicknamed Rolls Royce Rice.
Now Arteta already has a genius new nickname for Rice less than a week after leaving West Ham for Arsenal.
Gunners boss explains his new Rice nickname
The Spaniard has given Rice the moniker ‘the lighthouse’ and has been explaining why during the club’s US tour.
“I see him like a lighthouse,” Arteta told BBC Sport.
“He is willing to put the light in others, improve others and make the team better.
“We discussed a while ago how he could evolve the team and complement the players and take that winning hunger into a team with players who really want to push themselves to a different level.
“He has an aura. The experience he has in this league is going to bring the team to a different dimension. He has the physical qualities we were missing for a while.
“The way he talks and presents himself. The ambition he has and his passion for the game is exactly what we needed.”
If West Ham didn’t miss Rice enough already, Arteta’s comments will certainly drive that feeling home.
Arsenal have one hell of a player and person on their hands.
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