Former Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant claims he would have Douglas Luiz over Declan Rice “every day of the week”. The two players are set to go head-to-head this evening when the Gunners make a trip to in-form Aston Villa.
Arsenal attempted to sign Luiz in the summer of 2022. They had several bids worth up to £25million turned down for the Brazil international.
Luiz then signed a new long-term contract at Villa Park and is flourishing under Unai Emery. Arsenal broke their club record by signing Rice for £105m from West Ham in the summer.
The England star has had an exceptional start to life in north London and scored the late winner in Tuesday’s dramatic win at Luton. Despite Rice’s presence, Arsenal remain interested in Luiz, although Villa would not let him go easily.
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Pennant says there is no doubt about Rice’s quality and impact since moving to the Emirates. However, he believes Luiz has more to his game ahead of Villa’s clash with Arsenal this evening.
Pennant said on talkSPORT: “Any team would dream to have Rice, but there are better sixes in the Premier League at the moment. I would say Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa, I think he can do everything that Rice can do and better.
“I think he assists more, he chips in with goals more than Rice. Creativity-wise he’s better, flair is better, he can put in a tackle just like Rice, break up play just like Rice.
“So I think if someone said to me you can have Douglas Luiz for £60m or Declan Rice for £100m, easy every day of the week, Douglas Luiz.”
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Luiz has scored five Premier League goals this season compared to Rice’s three, although three of the Brazilian’s strikes have been penalties. Luiz has two assists, one more than Rice’s current tally.
Ahead of Saturday’s encounter, Mikel Arteta paid tribute to Rice and says he always expected him to have a big influence on his team. Arteta told Sky Sports: “Even when he was playing at West Ham, I had that feeling that this guy has got a presence that is unique, he has got something else.
“I think the team needs something like that. Through my imagination, every thought was extremely positive.
“Obviously, we knew he was going to be a very expensive player, but he is a player who was playing at a really high level already, so everything that I was trying to predict was extremely positive. Then, the outcome has been very, very quick and that is credit to him and how he has adapted, and also how everybody else has been extremely supportive and helpful with him.”
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