Joining Arsenal, Declan Rice has quickly had to adapt to new surroundings and expectations.

His time under Mikel Arteta’s stewardship is already fostering a significant shift in his football perspective.

• Declan Rice has quickly adjusted to Arsenal, making a conscious effort to show his character and integrate with the team.
• Under Mikel Arteta’s tutelage, Rice is seeing football in a new light, focusing on the game’s tactical aspects.
• Despite the pressure of his record fee, Rice remains focused on improving his game and contributing to Arsenal’s success.

After becoming Arsenal’s record signing, Declan Rice faced a momentous task – to integrate himself with his new teammates.

In an interview with The Telegraph, he recalls, “I was just thinking in my head that I was going to be as outgoing as possible. I wanted to go up to people, speak to people… I wanted to impose myself and let them know what I am like as a person.”

Rice is not only learning about his new team but also gaining valuable insight from Mikel Arteta.

He reflects on his new manager’s influence, saying, “Speaking to a few of the lads at England, just asking what the general setup is like, what the manager is like, the first thing they all said was how much they improved.

“When you hear that without seeing it, you think ‘that is interesting’. But when you get here and you see how he actually is, it is mind-boggling.

“Genuinely, in the last 10 days I have been blown away by how he is constantly thinking about football, how he is so oriented to win. How everyone is all in the same direction to win, to be together.”

Since joining Arsenal, Rice has witnessed a change in his understanding of football.

He says, “The positional sense of not being on the same line, not coming towards the ball too early, staying away from it and creating space for others… I genuinely feel like the next football match I will watch, I will watch it in a completely different way.

“Usually I just watch football for the fun of it. Now I am probably going to watch the tactical aspect.”

Despite the towering expectations that come with his £105 million transfer, Rice remains undeterred.

He states, “I know I was bought for £105 million. But I have not thought about it once. I don’t decide the price. I just play football.

“What got me here is my quality, what I have done for West Ham, and that is not going to change. Don’t judge me over one year, judge me over six.”

Rice’s affection for his previous club remains, with him adding, “I genuinely felt the love of the fans…That is how I see them as well. I never want them to think any different.”

Rice’s journey at Arsenal is just beginning, and his ambitious spirit is already driving his success.

As he confidently states, “You see the improvements and the strides Arsenal are making… To come here and try to help this squad achieve big things, it means a lot. Let’s see how this journey goes.”