It’s a bit early for a title decider. The season is six weeks away, the transfer window has only just opened, and Jack Grealish is still hung over.
But like last summer, the Gunners have been quickest on the draw.
They have already snared Kai Havertz to bolster their attack and had two shots at signing their main target: Declan Rice.
Both bids were knocked back by West Ham who want Manchester City to join the race for their superstar.
An auction between the champions and runners-up would send the price soaring above the £100m record for a British player (Grealish), and enable David Moyes to strengthen the squad in key areas.
It may also decide next season’s title race.
If the England pivot opts to polish his game at Pep Guardiola’s ‘school of excellence’, it’s game, set and season to City.
But if Guardiola decides he doesn’t need another midfielder, having replaced Ilkay Gundogan with Mateo Kovacic, Arsenal could be in with a shout.
Rice has the skill and temperament to become a Gunners’ great – and he could even be the signing that tilts the title Arsenal’s way.
Lost in the excitement of City’s historic three crowns was just how hard Arsenal had pushed them in the league.
Although soundly beaten in their two head-to-heads and choking at the end, the Gunners once held an eight-point lead.
They were top for 248 days – an undreamed of run after the way they started – and finished – the previous campaign.
Never in the history of English top-flight football has a team spent so long leading and failed to lift the title.
That said, it was still a great season.
Few fans felt they would be top four contenders even with the astute additions of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksander Zinchenko from City.
But they were a different side as Mikel Arteta really imposed himself on the squad last season.
And at one stage, we wondered if Guardiola would pay for his generosity in letting his former assistant have two fringe players at reasonable prices.
But with Jesus missing half the season, the young side couldn’t sustain it as City became unstoppable.
Someone of Rice’s calibre might have made a difference.
His ball-winning and ability to carry it out of defence is superior to Granit Xhaka’s who is leaving for the Bundesliga.
So, too, are his leadership skills. Although not a rabble-rouser, he makes his presence felt more than current skipper Martin Odegaard who disappeared in key games late on.
Just 24 and entering the peak of what should be a brilliant career, Rice has made no secret of his desire to play at the very top.
He got a taste for silverware with the European Conference triumph which provided a storybook ending to his Hammers’ career.
Having ensured his trophy cabinet is already better stocked than Harry Kane’s, it’s a measure of his character that he can leave West Ham with the fans’ blessing.
Arsenal should just up their bid and hope that Guardiola feels he has enough of Rice’s type.
He will miss Gundogan’s leadership and goals – Kovacic is a rare scorer and only three years younger – but has yet to really show his hand.
He still has forgotten man Kalvin Phillips, Rice’s partner in the England side that reached the Euro 2020 final.
If Guardiola does get Rice but doesn’t want to renew their partnership – he still has the magnificent Rodri – Arteta could do worse than sign Phillips.
Although very much the junior man now, the ex-Leeds man even outshone Rice during England’s memorable run two years ago.
Havertz is a surprise arrival as he was not exactly a prolific goalscorer at Chelsea.
But it’s likely that Arteta has bought him to play as a No.8 who pushes forward to become a second striker, the role he prefers.
If Rice is behind him and Odegaard alongside, Arsenal’s opponents will be lucky to get a kick.
With Bukayo Saka blossoming into a world-class wide man and Jesus hoping to finally enjoy an injury-free season, the Gunners could be a force to reckon with going forward.
But another reason to make Rice a priority is that they look like being gazumped by Chelsea for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.
Manchester United have also been linked with Rice but they are still stymied by the takeover saga.
Short of cash, they’ve reportedly offered Harry Maguire and/or Scott McTominay in part exchange.
That is surely inviting West Ham to say: “Thanks, but no thanks.”
It boils down to a choice between City and Arsenal.
If a single grain of rice can tip the scales: a £100m world-class midfielder can tip a title race. - FMT
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
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