Rio Ferdinand says Arsenal star could get ‘itchy feet’ with another trophyless season

Rio Ferdinand says Declan Rice could get ‘itchy feet’ and start ‘looking’ for another club should Arsenal fail to win any silverware again next season.

Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham in a club-record £100million deal two years ago and the 26-year-old has gone on to make 101 appearances in all competitions for the north London outfit.

But Rice is still yet to lift a major trophy in an Arsenal shirt, with West Ham’s Europa Conference League triumph in 2023 still arguably the crowning moment of the midfielder’s club career.

The Gunners had major aspirations at the start of this season having twice finished as runners-up behind Manchester City in the Premier League under Mikel Arteta.

And while City failed in their defence of the title, it was Liverpool that knocked Pep Guardiola’s side off their perch in what was Arne Slot’s debut season as manager in English football.

Arsenal’s subsequent Champions League exit at the semi-final stage means Arteta will again finish trophyless this term, with the club knocked out of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup by Manchester United and Newcastle respectively.

Ferdinand is confident Rice is the sort of character who would want to stick around and ‘get the job done’ before agitating for a move.

However, the former Manchester United defender believes it would only be natural for the England international to begin considering his future should Arsenal repeatedly fall short of their goals.

‘I think Declan is a bit of a throwback. There’s a difference to him,’ he said on the latest episode of Rio Ferdinand Presents.

‘He would want to get the job done before he thought about going anywhere. I think he would be that type. I could be wrong but from knowing Declan, I think that’s where he would sit.

‘If he goes another season without winning then maybe he might start looking.’

Putting himself in Rice’s shoes, Ferdinand admits his head could have been turned had he experienced a similar situation at the start of this Manchester United career.

‘I’ve got to say this: if I went to Manchester United and I didn’t win something for three years at the beginning and other teams are maybe getting a bit further ahead of us, it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen and then Real Madrid or Barcelona came in for me… bro, I think I’m going, I’ve got to be honest,’ he explained.

‘My thing was: I need to win. I’ve not come there for fame or for image or money.

‘I’ve come here because Sir Alex Ferguson is here, the club is steeped in the history of winning and they’re a dominant force. I need that in my life.

‘Declan hasn’t gone to Arsenal for money or fame. He’s gone there to try and improve himself and win.

‘If you’re not doing that, I could see him maybe getting itchy feet at least, but I think it’s too early to say.’

It comes after Jamie Carragher suggested Rice could soon start having serious ‘doubts’ about his future at the Emirates.

‘I don’t think right now, I think maybe for other players who’ve been there a bit longer,’ Carragher said on Sky Sports following Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool last weekend.

‘But in terms of Declan, I think he’s been Arsenal’s best player this season.

‘I think those doubts maybe kick in in another 12 months.’

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