Declan Rice highlights Chelsea’s absurd transfer business | OneFootball

Declan Rice delivered a star performance in Arsenal’s 5-0 demolition of Chelsea, underlining the absurdity of the transfer market’s previous undervaluation of the England midfielder.

Rice’s energy and influence were pivotal in the Gunners’ victory, while also raising questions about Chelsea’s expensive signings who continue to disappoint.

Declan Rice played with a fire in his belly as Arsenal demolished Chelsea 5-0, exposing the absurdity of a transfer market that overlooked England’s midfield star.

For Rice, rejected by Chelsea as a youth, this dominant performance was both personal vindication and a reminder of his immense value.

While Enzo Fernández boasts a World Cup medal and Moisés Caicedo carries an even heftier price tag, it’s Rice who consistently drives performances. The notion that elite managers like Pep Guardiola wouldn’t genuinely covet Rice always seemed ludicrous. Now, as Arsenal surge towards the end of the season, Rice is proving his worth with every match.

No longer confined to a purely defensive role as he often was with West Ham, Rice relished the freedom to create and attack. From his surging runs to his near-miss that flew just over the bar, Rice showcased the box-to-box talent Chelsea failed to recognise.

This was a stark reminder of what they missed out on.

In contrast, Chelsea’s high-priced signings like Fernández and Mykhailo Mudryk – who could have been an Arsenal player – offered glimpses of promise but little substance.

Fernández’s defensive vulnerability was exposed, while Mudryk seems more like a ploy to derail Arsenal’s transfer plans than a genuine solution to Chelsea’s numerous problems.

A banner in the crowd held up by a child pleading for fight summed up the desperation around Stamford Bridge. “I don’t want your shirt,” it read, “I just want you to fight for ours.”

This day had been a long time in coming.

Rice’s

Rice’s relentless energy was fundamental to Arsenal’s win. It was his pressure on Chelsea youngster Alfie Gilchrist that led directly to the opening goal. His missed chance moments later didn’t diminish his influence, as he continued to harass Chelsea.

This was a performance that screamed talisman, the exact quality Chelsea has desperately tried (and failed) to buy.

The bigger picture

Arsenal’s resounding victory silences doubts about their title credentials. Rice’s brilliance, along with Chelsea’s continued struggles, reinforces the fact that the Gunners made the wise investment last summer.

Perhaps Rice’s greatest satisfaction lies in proving his doubters at Chelsea wrong. This win wasn’t just about three points for Arsenal; it was a middle finger to those who questioned his worth.