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Arsenal new boy Declan Rice speaks out on price tag after brutal Roy Keane comments
Declan Rice responded to Roy Keane's comments after Arsenal defeated Manchester City.
Arsenal v Manchester City: Pictures
Arsenal's new record signing Declan Rice has spoken about how Sunday's Community Shield penalty shoot-out victory over Manchester City will help with the pressure that comes with his £105million price tag after Roy Keane questioned the move. Leandro Trossard's 100th-minute deflected strike cancelled out Cole Palmer's stunning effort before the Gunners triumphed on spot kicks at Wembley to pick up the first trophy of the season.
Rice had both Arsenal and City vying for his signature this summer with bids upwards of £80m from both teams, but Pep Guardiola's outfit backed off when the Gunners opted to splash out £100m to bolster Mikel Arteta's midfield.
After Granit Xhaka left north London for Bayer Leverkusen, midfield recruits were vital but Manchester United icon Keane was among those who debated whether the 24-year-old was worth the outlay.
Ahead of the game, Keane felt that Arsenal overpaid to bring Rice to the Emirates this summer. "He is obviously going to be surrounded by better players, different demands," Keane told ITV. "If he is going to play a little higher up the pitch, I can think he definitely has that quality in terms of getting at more goals to him, he's obviously got that physical strength, he can get in the box.
"They have obviously paid way too much for him. He's certainly not worth over £100 million! But a really good player. We will find out over the next year or two how good Declan is. He turns up every week, he is a big strong boy. We have talked about that physicality, they lacked that in the last month or two. Has he got that really top quality in terms of seeing a pass and getting nine or 10 goals? We'll soon find out."
But Rice was aided by winning a trophy in his first game at the club, as he admitted that the win helps with the pressure that has been heaped onto him by figures such as Keane. "Definitely," he said when asked if the win helps fend off doubters. "I feel like I've grown so much in the first few weeks that I have been here.
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"There's a lot of information to take in on what the manager wants but I am eager to learn like I keep saying, I am eager to keep improving and I am sure with the team that we have got, the manager, the staff, everyone sewn together we can achieve anything this year. We just need to stay focused, stay together and enjoy today.
"I am buzzing, this is what I visioned when I joined. City gave us what we expected, but I am buzzing – so happy.
"You have to have the patience against them, you have to have mini-games within the game against them like the manager said to us before. To win today, my first for the club."