PSV Eindhoven ace Joey Veerman says Arsenal’s signing of Declan Rice highlights the difference between the two Champions League opponents in Wednesday’s 4-0 hammering at the Emirates Stadium.
Making his UCL bow alongside the likes of Bukayo Saka in midweek, Declan Rice made sure to mark that long-awaited debut in style, producing a performance befitting of European football’s biggest stage.
Rio Ferdinand pointed out recently that no one is mentioning Rice’s £100 million price tag these days – a testament to just how impressive he has been since arriving at Arsenal from West Ham United – and the Gunners’ record signing maintained his supreme form against PSV; a trademark line-breaking pass laying the foundations for Bukayo Saka’s early opener.
And while Veerman was determined not to make excuses for a heavy PSV defeat, the Dutch international was still at pains to point out the financial gulf between Arsenal and the Eredivisie leaders.
Rice, he says, cost Mikel Arteta more than Peter Bosz’s entire roster put together.
Declan Rice shines in Arsenal win
“(The defeat) is not very strange,” Veerman argues, in conversation with Ziggo Sport. “I think this is the second most expensive team in the world.
“As a footballer, you prefer not to say it, but you know this can happen. They signed a midfielder for 120 million euros. He is more expensive than our entire squad!
“This is no excuses, but it is the way it is.”
Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard also found the net at the Emirates, three dead-eyed finishes leaving PSV ‘keeper Walter Benitez grasping desperately at thin air.
PSV hammered by Mikel Arteta’s side
“We just like to have the ball,” Veerman adds. “That is a little more difficult against Arsenal than in the Eredivisie. We knew that Arsenal would be the better team. We should not pretend that this (defeat) just came out of the blue.”
Arsenal will travel to Lens on matchday two in early October. Lens, Ligue 1 runners-up last season, drew 1-1 with Sevilla on Wednesday.
The post PSV star singles out one Arsenal player 'more expensive than our entire squad' appeared first on HITC.
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