Bukayo Saka explains how he convinced Declan Rice to join Arsenal over Man City

Bukayo Saka has admitted he managed to convince Declan Rice, Arsenal would improve if he signed for them instead of with Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta were battling it out in the summer for the defensive midfielder after West Ham United announced they would be selling him. The Gunners were initial favourites but City entered the discussion when it was confirmed Ilkay Gundogan would be leaving for Barcelona.

Arsenal eventually managed to get the deal over the line with a whopping £105m transfer bid. City were given the option to match Arteta's men but decided to walk away.

Since arriving at the Emirates Stadium, Rice has adapted well to his new surroundings and scored his first goal for the club in dramatic circumstances as Arsenal beat Manchester United on Sunday. Saka and Rice have now joined up with the England squad for their Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine and the friendly clash with Scotland.

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Four of City's players have also been called up to the St George's Park squad and Arsenal's winger has revealed Rice sought his advice when deciding whether to join the Blues or not. When asked what he did to convince the 24-year-old to move to North London, Saka told talkSPORT: "He’d ask a few questions and I’d answer them.

"I’d just try to give him the reassurance that he’d be coming to the right club and that the future is exciting for us. If he joined us, he’d make us better and that yeah, we can definitely achieve things."

City have since signed Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea and Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton Wanderers to fill their central midfield gaps and have got off to the best possible start with four wins from as many Premier League