Declan Rice has given Mikel Arteta an indication of just what Marcus Rashford could offer Arsenal. Rashford has pushed Anthony Gordon out of England's starting line-up at the World Cup. The Manchester United forward scored after coming off the bench in the opening fixture against Croatia, before injecting real energy as a substitute against Ghana. This earned him a place in the starting XI for last night's 2-0 victory over Panama.
Rice Praises Rashford's Impact Off the Bench
Rice was full of praise for the impact Rashford made from the substitutes' bench, particularly during their tricky encounter against Ghana. He said: "It's always difficult when you play against 11 behind the ball, as deep as they were. You've got to find solutions. In the last 10 minutes, we found more than we did all game and we were probably unlucky not to score."
Those comments shed light on precisely what Rashford could contribute to Arsenal when they face sides that sit deep and defend. England struggled to break down Ghana's stubborn defence - a challenge the Gunners faced repeatedly last season.
Arsenal's Need for a Creative Attacker
Arsenal came up against numerous defensive-minded teams during their title-winning run, resulting in seven draws. The likes of Nottingham Forest and Liverpool held them to 0-0 scorelines, with Sunderland and Wolves also managing to take points off them. Arteta will be eager to bring in an attacking player capable of unlocking stubborn defences and converting these draws into victories as they attempt to retain their Premier League title.
The rivalry may pose an obstacle, but United have ruled out selling to only two clubs; Liverpool and Manchester City. This means any other English side could make a bid, with Tottenham also showing interest in the 28-year-old. Reports indicate that the England international is set on a switch to Barcelona this summer after a fruitful loan spell. But Gordon's £80million transfer to the Nou Camp appears to have derailed those ambitions.
Arsenal's Transfer Activity and Rashford's Release Clause
Arsenal have just made Piero Hincapie's switch from Bayer Leverkusen permanent for £34.5m after triggering the clause they secured in the defender's loan arrangement. This signing demonstrates the funds the Gunners are willing to spend, and Rashford's £40m release clause arguably shouldn't present a problem. It remains unclear whether the England international fancies a switch to north London, but he would be an outstanding addition to Arsenal's attacking options for next season's title defence.
