How Arsenal can solve their Declan Rice problem in the transfer window

Declan Rice has had many magical moments in an Arsenal shirt to date.

From that late winner, his first Gunners goal against Manchester United, to those remarkable free-kicks against Real Madrid, the midfielder is never far away when the big moments arise.

2025/26, however, was arguably the best season of his career to date. Rice is now a Premier League winner, a Champions League runner-up and a World Cup bronze medalist.

Sure, he ultimately fell short of winning the whole gamut of silverware but this is a player who has now dragged himself into the conversation for the Ballon d’Or. That’s how good this midfielder is. However, going into 2026/27, Arsenal need to look after him better.

Why Arsenal have a Declan Rice problem

In the summer of 2023, Arsenal made the club-record signing of Rice for £105m. It’s a move that now looks like a relative bargain when you consider that Elliot Anderson has moved for £116m and Morgan Rogers for £117m this summer. Even Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham in a £100m deal.

Whether or not they live up to their price tags remain to be seen but Rice certainly has. After his move to the Emirates Stadium, he has been nothing but sensational. He has been one of the main driving forces behind their rise to greatness, winning the Premier League last term.

The England international arrived from West Ham as more of a deep-lying number 6 but Mikel Arteta has identified that he would be rather good in a more advanced role. He has become more of a box-crashing number 8 in recent years and his tally in front of goal is a testament to that. He netted as many as nine times in 2024/25. That remains a seasonal best for the former Hammer.

Rice has been a force to be reckoned with in Arsenal colours but cracks have started to appear in 2026. It would appear as though Arteta has something of a problem in midfield.

The simple fact of the matter is that the club-record man looks exhausted. He has given blood, sweat and tears not only to a Premier League and Champions League conquest but also to England’s World Cup campaign.

Last season, no outfield player at Arsenal featured for more minutes (4,456). Only seven other midfielders in the top-flight of English football ran further.

To coin a well-used phrase, the 27-year-old has been ran into the ground, so much so that he has been struggling with neural pain. He looked spent at the World Cup, notably seen icing his hamstrings on the bench after England’s win over DR Congo.

Usually such an important figure for club and country, it felt like Rice was only playing at about 70% of his full capacity out in North America. He needs a rest and a big holiday but Arsenal’s Premier League defence begins in a month.

How Arsenal can solve their Rice conundrum in the transfer market

Before the World Cup had even got underway Arsenal had made it one of their big priorities this summer to sign a new midfielder.

A bucket full of names are on the shortlist, including Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi.

There was tentative interest in the aforementioned Anderson and Tonali before they headed elsewhere. Truthfully, they were never truly in the conversation to sign the pairing.

They are, however, ramping up interest in Tonali’s former Newcastle United teammate, Bruno Guimaraes.

What a signing this would be, particularly in light of losing out on Rogers. He has signed for Chelsea and it is important now that the hierarchy get supporters back on side. Arsenal need to act like champions in the market this summer and they are so far yet to do that.

They need a few ceiling raisers and in Guimaraes, they would find exactly that. Arsenal’s interest in the Brazilian is no secret but they have so far taken a rather laboured approach to sealing his signature. Still, it only feels like a matter of time before an official bid is launched.

Newcastle value the player upwards of £100m but the Gunners will not pay that. They hope to be able to cough up a lower fee and will look towards the player to push through a move himself. According to reports from Football.London this week, he is now ‘very open’ to making the switch to the Emirates Stadium. Who wouldn’t be? Arsenal are title winners after all. Their hoodoo and drought is over.

This move would be meaningful, in particular, for Rice. If Arsenal are not careful, they will further run their star man into the ground.

He will no doubt play a vital part next season but he needs more competition. The Gunners need to add more bodies in midfield to afford England’s vice captain to get back to his best levels.

Guimaraes is simply the perfect pick in this regard. He’s a plug and play option. Aged 28, he boasts immense leadership skills having captained the Toon and more generally, he is “one of the best midfielders in the world” in the eyes of international colleague Gabriel Martinelli.

This is a player who much like Rice has taken his game to new levels in recent years. He’s a warrior of a midfielder, he’s got a mean streak in him – only ten other midfielders have picked up more yellow cards (33) than Guimaraes since Newcastle signed him in January 2022.

However, in a similar way to Rice, he has become a force in the final third too. In 2025/26, he scored nine times for Eddie Howe’s side and assisted seven goals. He has never found the net on more occasions in any previous season.

Guimaraes is in the prime of his career and would be ready to hit the ground running immediately. It makes him the perfect signing for Rice this summer, whether it be as a partner in the middle of the park or someone who can give him more respite.