Declan Rice says he is “already seeing football in a completely different way” after less than two weeks under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.
The midfielder joined in a £105million move from West Ham and admits training sessions and the tactical demands placed on him are an eye-opener.
“I’m already seeing football in a completely different way,” Rice told Sky Sports.
“You think you know football growing up and when you play, but when you meet managers like Mikel, you realise you don’t really know anything about football. There are different styles and different ways of playing that I’ve never experienced before.
“Of course, the way I played at West Ham is completely different to the way Mikel plays, so it’s going to take some time to adapt. But I’m really eager to learn to improve, to ask questions, to do one-to-one training to improve and try and get it as quickly as possible.
“Hopefully, once all that starts to click, Arsenal will be amazing. Of course I want to go up a few levels as well, which I know I can. So yeah, it’s really important that I adapt.”
Rice is the most expensive British player but the 24-year-old is unfazed by his price tag.
“I can’t control what I’ve been bought for,” said Rice. “That’s determined on how well I’ve played consistently over the last couple of years and what West Ham obviously set the price at.
“Over the six years, hopefully I can repay that price tag.”
