Danny Murphy has suggested that a key Arsenal player would have struggled had he signed for Manchester United.
Arsenal are set to travel to Old Trafford today for what looks set to be a defining game in their season. Anything less than three points will likely see the Premier League title head back to the Etihad Stadium.
The Gunners currently trail Manchester City by two points and after today’s clash at Old Trafford, Pep Guardiola’s men will travel to Tottenham on Tuesday for their game in hand.
Despite Manchester United’s poor run of form recently, Mikel Arteta’s side haven’t fared well at Old Trafford in recent years, having won just once in their last 16 visits.
Arsenal will head to Manchester with all the momentum this time around though and largely a different side from previous years.
That is partly down to summer signing Declan Rice, who has quickly become one of Arteta’s most important players.
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Murphy makes claim about Declan Rice and Man United
Following an exceptional start to life at the Emirates Stadium, Murphy believes United would have benefited massively from signing the Englishman. But he also suggested Rice wouldn’t have managed the same impact under Ten Hag.
“There can be no higher compliment to pay Declan Rice than to say he’s en route to becoming another Rodri, the most important player at Manchester City,” the former Tottenham man told The Daily Mail.
“Rice is one of the players of the season. You can’t believe it’s his first season at Arsenal. The transition after leaving West Ham has been seamless. He has embraced the pressure of having to win every week.
“United would have benefited hugely by signing Rice but I’m not sure they’d have ever got him. The fit with Arsenal looks perfect, from being in London to the connection with Arteta.
“As good as Rice is, he wouldn’t have been able to turn United’s fortunes around on his own. He’d be in a team struggling to get possession and dominate games. I don’t think Declan will be walking around Old Trafford thinking: ‘Oh no, I wish I played for these.’”
United held talks over Rice signing
Of course, United were also linked with a summer swoop for Rice but the Englishman evidently had his heart set on a move to Arsenal.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recently admitted that United had discussed signing the former West Ham skipper during his time at the club.
The 25-year-old has produced ‘world-class’ performances for Arsenal this season and it’s fair to say that Casemiro has underwhelmed at the base of midfield for United.
Whether or not Rice would have been a transformative signing for United is up for debate.
The Red Devils often look disjointed in the middle of the park and that is partly down to Ten Hag’s tactical set-up.
While Rice is undoubtedly among the best in the world in his position, the problems at United run far deeper than just one position in their starting XI.