In the summer 2023 transfer window, Declan Rice was acquired by Arsenal for a staggering £105 million from West Ham, shocking the whole football community. The 24-year-old midfielder had made a name for himself as one of the best players in English football, and the North London club’s decision to sign him to a contract with the Gunners was seen as a declaration of purpose.
Rice, however, was most startled by something other than the size of the transfer cost or the responsibility that comes with representing a team like Arsenal. Actually, it was something that manager Mikel Arteta did on his very first day at the club.
Rice acknowledged that he was a little anxious on his first day at Arsenal in an interview with Tubes & Ange Golf Life posted on YouTube. He exited the physical therapy facility only to discover a sticker on his chest as he made his way through the practice field. The sticker said, “Hello, I’m the new person.”
Declan Rice: “The first day [at Arsenal], I was there on the Sunday, the guys weren’t in, but I come out of the physio room and Arteta, just like little things he does, he put like a sticker on my chest saying, ‘Hello, I’m the new person,’ which made me feel a little less scared. I’m trying to cover my chest as I walk into the canteen where everyone who is under 18 and under 21 is there. According to Tubes & Ange Golf Life YouTube, Mikel Arteta.
Rice was taken off guard by Arteta’s subtle motion, and as he passed the group of under-18s and under-21s congregated in the canteen, he found himself trying to cover his chest. It was a playful joke that helped everyone get along and made Rice feel at home in his new environment.
This episode says a lot about Arteta’s leadership style and his capacity to foster a healthy work environment within the team. Despite being a highly regarded and successful coach, Arteta recognizes the need to welcome and integrate newcomers.
Rice continued by describing how Arteta’s focus on detail and thoughtfulness had a long-lasting effect on him. It helped him realize that he had joined a group where each person is respected and where a strong sense of teamwork is encouraged.
The relationship between Arteta and his players will surely be essential as Arsenal pursues local and European honors. The manager’s ability to foster a friendly and inclusive workplace, as evidenced by his practical joke on Rice, will only increase the group’s cohesion and determination to succeed.