Pep Guardiola speaks out on Arsenal beating Man City to Declan Rice | Football

Pep Guardiola says Arsenal have signed an ‘incredible player’ after Manchester City missed out on a deal for England midfielder Declan Rice.

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While Arsenal were leading the race to sign Rice from West Ham earlier in the summer, Premier League champions Man City threatened to blow them out of the water as they tabled a £90m bid for the 24-year-old.

But that was short of West Ham’s valuation and Arsenal were able to return with an offer of more than £100m to secure Rice’s signature.

The switch to north London made Rice Arsenal’s most expensive signing and one of the most lucrative in Premier League history.

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Guardiola believes Rice will be an ‘incredible player’ for Arsenal and has suggested the player always wanted to link up with the Gunners despite substantial interest from Manchester City.

‘Rice decided on Arsenal so all the best,’ Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield final at Wembley.

‘He’s an important player, a very nice guy and for England will be important. For Arsenal, what an incredible player.’

Manchester City reeled in long-time Premier League leaders Arsenal to win their third successive title last season.

Looking ahead to the Community Shield clash against Mikel Arteta’s side, Guardiola said: ‘Of course we are going to try to win.

‘How we are right now, we finish two weeks later than Arsenal, start [pre-season] two weeks later so we’re not the best way.

‘We struggle to restart. But it’s a final and hopefully our mentality can help us compete.’

Guardiola also challenged his Manchester City players to ‘sustain the level’ that saw them clinch a historic treble last season as they added the Champions League and FA Cup to their Premier League triumph.

‘The challenge is massive for us mentally and how we grow as a team football-wise to sustain that level,’ he added. ‘It’s almost impossible but the challenge is that.

‘How hungry we still are, our desire. Over the next 11 months, we will have many low moments, it’s how we come back.’

More to follow…