Arsenal news: First summer transfer announced as Declan Rice faces being sacrificed
Arsenal are close to winning the Premier League title, but Declan Rice could be asked to sacrifice.
Arsenal have discreetly announced their first departure of the summer transfer window, while Declan Rice's immediate role has come under the microscope. The Gunners are now just three wins away from claiming silverware. Following a tense and contentious 1-0 win at West Ham on Sunday, Mikel Arteta's team can clinch the Premier League title for the first time since 2004 by securing victory in their remaining two league fixtures.
That would set up the north London outfit for a potentially historic domestic and European double when they meet Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on May 30. Arsenal will be aiming to become European champions for the first time in their history in Budapest, though the calibre of their opposition and recent injury problems indicate it will be anything but simple.
Now, ahead of Monday's league clash with Burnley at the Emirates Stadium, we take a look at two of the biggest stories surrounding the Gunners.
Declan Rice faces sacrifice
Paul Scholes believes Rice should operate at right-back for the remainder of the season. Rice was utilised as a right-back during the opening half of the victory over West Ham following an injury to Ben White.
He eventually dropped back into his preferred central midfield role in the second half after the Gunners began to lose their grip on the midfield during his time elsewhere on the pitch.
However, White's MCL injury ruling him out until the close of the season, combined with persistent fitness worries surrounding Jurrien Timber, have left Arteta short of options at a crucial point in the campaign.
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Manchester United legend Scholes believes Rice should put the team first by operating out of position for the remainder of Arsenal's fixtures, despite Cristhian Mosquera being a more natural defender capable of stepping into that role. Scholes also appeared to cast doubt on Rice's creative contributions while airing his views.
He said on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast: "Declan Rice looks like he would suit playing at right-back to me. He can play there. He's not a big creator anyway."
Podcast co-host and fellow United legend Nicky Butt drew comparisons between Rice's adaptability and Roy Keane's during his heyday, remarking: "Roy Keane played right-back for two-thirds of a season," to which Scholes responded: "He played there loads and was brilliant."
First Arsenal transfer announced
Arsenal have confirmed Jakub Kiwior's transfer to Porto on a permanent basis. Kiwior joined the Portuguese club on a season-long loan deal last year, which was expected to become permanent this summer.
Porto announced last week that they had triggered the option to secure the Polish defender on a four-year deal, having agreed a £14million transfer that could rise to £19m. Arsenal have subsequently confirmed the departure in a relatively low-key fashion through their weekly loan watch update.
"Jakub Kiwior's move to Porto has now become permanent following the Dragaos' Liga Portugal title triumph last weekend," their post read. "The Polish defender was an unused substitute in this weekend's 3-1 defeat at AFS, in which the team was rotated."
