Rice’s ability to up his game questioned
Rio Ferdinand has asked a big question regarding Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal, Can the 24 year old up his game.
Rice: Can he up his game?
The former Hammer and Manchester United central defender has been there and done it as far as such a scenario is concerned but reckons Rice may face trouble in an Arsenal side full of quality.
Speaking on Five he made the point that Rice will need to up his game as he goes from being the star player at West Ham to being surrounded by quality players ar Arsenal.
And he added that when a player is at a club, with perhaps lesser players, upping one’s game is a problem that can be faced.
Looking at the issues facing Declan ,Ferdinand said: “I saw it when I went to Leeds. At the time we were trying to challenge and you go there and the group are a better standard of player. The environment is geared towards trying to win more than trying just to stay in the league. Not that West Ham are playing just to stay in the league now, it’s a bit different.
‘Declan Rice will have loved it at West Ham, what a way to sign off. But the difference is that he’s going to be joining a team that are going to be challenging for the league. All the big trophies that they’re in for they’re going to be trying to win those things, it’s not about just competing.’
‘And I think that’s going to be a difference. What we need to see now is, can he step up that level? Can he go up to that level and the expectation now which is different, the demands on him which are different. More is going to be asked of him maybe in an Arsenal shirt than what he was doing at West Ham.’
‘The problem is, if you’re a £100million player plus, or a British transfer record, like I was once, you don’t get time.”
