Declan Rice - A Statement of Intent

When I think about the huge progress we made last season, I can't help but think about our 2007/2008 campaign and the juxtaposition between how we responded to the eventual disappointment.

The seasons themselves were fairly similar actually - two teams with a crop of fantastic young talents, playing sumptuous football. They accrued similar points totals and, in the end, both squads were one game away from winning the league - they had to beat the eventual champions away from home. Both teams they lost out to went on to win the champions league too, City going that one step further and completing the Treble.

So, at the end of those seasons, the 105 million pound question was: how do we bridge that gap?

In the summer of '08, we lost 2 key players in Hleb and Flamini. Fabregas, our best player, over celebrated winning the euros with spain by returning fat, out of shape, and eventually got a big injury that kept him out for months (I don't blame him for that, he came off worse in a challenge with Xabi Alonso if I remember correctly). Although we signed Samir Nasri, it was a squad that had taken 2 steps back and half a step forward. It was also severely lacking leadership.

Contrast to now. Instead of losing our best players, we are tying them down to new contracts - Saka, Saliba, Martinelli and Ramsdale have all signed up recently. Odegaard rumoured to follow. The squad is packed with leaders now. Yes, we have let Xhaka go....

But we've replaced him with Declan Rice!

Make no mistake, signing this guy is the biggest statement of intent we've made since signing Sol Campbell. People will mention Ozil, and while I can understand that, his signing heralded a new financial era for the club. Rice has chosen us over the likes of Bayern Munich, Man City and Chelsea. Liverpool and Man United were keen but couldn't stump up the money. Rice sees the progress we've made, and even referenced the amazon documentary the club made 2 seasons ago. I thought that doc would be a huge mistake, but it seems to have worked in our favour. And like Sol Campbell, Rice is an excellent player that transforms the way we play.

I'm really looking forward to next season, as I believe we will challenge for the league. In addition to Rice we have added Jurrien Timber who directly solves the issue that really damaged us in the league last season (lack of a ball playing, high-line CB in the absence of William Saliba).

The club are serious now - they've sent a message to the rest of the league. We are not just here to make top 4 anymore.