Arsenal want to become one of the best in the WORLD, Declan Rice tells Rio Ferdinand, and explains he left West Ham to ‘experience new things’ ahead Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest

Declan Rice has told Rio Ferdinand he believes Arsenal can become one of the ‘best teams in the world’ under Mikel Arteta ahead of the new Premier League season getting underway.

The England international secured a £105million transfer to the Emirates at the start of the summer and has been working hard to settle into the demands of playing under the club’s Spanish coach.

Rice has already tasted silverware for the first time in new surroundings after Arsenal beat Manchester City to win the Community Shield and is eagerly anticipating an opening Premier League encounter against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Arsenal are aiming to go one step further by lifting the Premier League title this season and Rice is already finding himself settled in North London.

Ferdinand spoke to the 24-year-old on TNT Sports as the English top-flight prepares to roar into life once again, with Rice marvelling at what he has been able to learn from Arteta throughout pre-season.

 ‘The moment I walked in the door, that’s the thing that shocked me the most how much it’s [the winning mentality] drilled into this club and the way the manager is drilling in the players about winning and not being far off, being one of the best teams in the world,’ Rice told Ferdinand on TNT Sports.

‘That’s what excites me. That’s why I came to Arsenal, to win, play under Mikel [Arteta], to play with the players. It’s such an exciting project to be a part of.’  

 ‘I think in the last four weeks alone I’ve grown so much. I’ve learned so much about football that I hadn’t really seen before.

‘I was blown away by him [Arteta]. Of course, I’m now working with him day by day, it’s another level. Seeing how he works, how his mind operates, picking up stuff.

‘Seeing how he goes into detail on the opposition and seeing how he wants to improve us as players individually collectively. It’s really impressive,’ he added.

Rice’s decision to leave West Ham came after he lead the Hammers to Europa Conference League glory last season.

The Hammers cashed in on their star player but have so far struggled to find an ideal replacement during a difficult transfer window for David Moyes.

Rice made the difficult decision to pursue a move to Arsenal from his boyhood club but admits it was the correct one at this stage of his fledgling career.  

‘You only get one career. I’m only 24 I just felt like it was the right time to move to go and experience new things, to go and learn, put myself out there,’ said Rice.

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