He should be strip off the Captain Armband now: Wayne Rooney told Arteta to remove the captain Armband from Martin Odegaard now and give it to this Arsenal star if they want to win League
The £105million deal that took the England midfielder from West Ham United to the Emirates was confirmed at the weekend.
DC United manager Rooney was speaking before he takes charge of MLS All Stars against Arsenal in a pre-season friendly later this week.
Rooney said of 24-year-old Rice: “I think he’s a huge signing for Arsenal. He’s a fantastic player with a great mentality and young.
“Arsenal have got a player at the top of his game and I think he’ll bring a great character in the dressing room.
“He could be captain of Arsenal. He’s a player who Arsenal needed and they’ve certainly got a top player.”
As well as Rice, Mikel Arteta has added to his squad, which finished second to Manchester City in the Premier League last season, with Kai Havertz, 24, from Chelsea for £65million and 22-year-old Jurrien Timber from Ajax for £34.3m.
Arsenal’s business in the transfer window this summer has impressed Rooney and the former Manchester United forward expects them to build on last season’s performance.
“I thought they had a fantastic season,” Rooney said. “It was a huge step and the signings they’ve made have been huge to kick on and challenge City. I think Liverpool, Chelsea and hopefully Man United will be better. Arsenal have made some great signings and they’ll compete again.”
Rooney, 37, also praised Arsenal manager Arteta saying he hopes to progress as a coach like the 41-year-old Spaniard, who previously worked alongside City manager Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.
“He’s done incredible to go in at Arsenal and he won the FA Cup in the first season and really pushed City last season,” Rooney said. “Still as a young coach. It’s great to see. Everyone coaches in their own way. He’s been fantastic.
“I’m sure working with Guardiola helped him. That’s where you want to get to as a young coach. I’m going through the steps to try and do that where Arteta has already been through that and had probably the best training under Guardiola.”
Arsenal face MLS All Stars, managed by Rooney at DC United’s Audi Field on Thursday at 1.30am BST (Wednesday, 8.30pm ET).
