One Arsenal summer transfer target has now revealed details about a conversation he held with Declan Rice whilst on international duty.

Declan Rice has been a revelation since he joined Arsenal in the recent summer transfer window.

The Gunners paid a club-record £105 million fee to prise the midfielder away from West Ham United. 

The 25-year-old hit the ground running in North London. Arsenal fans are already convinced that Rice has lived up to his enormous price tag. The England man has brought physicality, energy, and leadership to the spine of Mikel Arteta’s team. 

Rice has been described as the best Arsenal signing since Dennis Bergkamp was brought to the club.

He was also a talismanic figure at West Ham. In his final season with the East London outfit, Rice captained the Hammers to glory in the Europa Conference League.

This continental triumph marked the club’s first major honour since they won the FA Cup in 1980.

Now, Aston Villa are seeking to replicate West Ham’s feat. Unai Emery’s side are about to take on Greek side Olympiacos in the semi-finals of the continental competition. They will be playing for the chance of a showdown with either Fiorentina or Club Brugge in the final.

Of course, the Europa Conference League is not a competition with the same level of prestige as the Champions League or even the Europa League. However, the Villans will still be desperate to win it. 

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has discussed his side’s prospects in the tournament with Rice, who knows what it takes to win the competition. 

Speaking on TNT Sports, Watkins said: “I spoke to Dec and I spoke to Jarrod Bowen at England and they said yeah you boys are, they were confident that we’re going to win it. We’re confident ourselves, but you never know what’s going to happen.”

Arsenal show interest in Ollie Watkins

The 28-year-old forward has enjoyed a fine season so far, having netted 26 goals in all competitions. He will be desperate to cap off his campaign with silverware.

Arsenal have shown an interest in signing Watkins, given the form he has shown at Villa Park. Arteta is keen to add a new striker to his ranks, and the 11-cap England international has proven that he can be prolific in the Premier League.

If he does make the move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, then Watkins will be working alongside Rice to help the Gunners try to achieve glory in Europe’s elite club competition, the Champions League.

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