Arsenal FINALLY reach agreement with West Ham for Declan Rice

After days of will they or won’t they, The Athletic’s David Ornstein finally revealed Arsenal have a total agreement with West Ham for the transfer of Declan Rice.

And breathe Arsenal fans.

It may have come late, but as the saying goes, better late than never, and Ornstein dropped his bomb late on Tuesday night.

After what felt like weeks, Arsenal and  West Ham now have a total agreement for the transfer of Declan Rice.

This latest development now means Rice can go ahead and have his medical with the Gunners and dot the I’s and cross the T’s on his new contract with Arsenal.

We have known for the best part of a month that Arsenal was in for Rice, and while Manchester City did come sniffing, albeit briefly, Rice was seemingly always set on coming to north London.

Once City bowed out of the race for the England midfielder, some thought it was only a matter of time before Rice was officially announced as a Gooner.

But we were made to wait.

Arsenal FINALLY reach an agreement with West Ham for Declan Rice

https://twitter.com/now_arsenaI/status/1676357235427926016?s=20

Now, with the agreement fully done, many expect this deal to be wrapped up rather quickly, with some thinking that by the end of the week, Declan Rice could be unveiled as an Arsenal player.

Even though most of the Gunners faithful were “certain” Rice was going to join, they still needed confirmation from Ornstein, who, for some, is the most trusted person in the business to deliver the news.

Well, deliver he did, and now Arsenal have got their man.

After signing Kai Havertz and now Rice, the Gunners’ summer transfer business is gathering pace, and some expect the impending arrival of Jurrien Timber to swiftly follow.

Outgoings are also a fascinating watch, with the club reportedly now giving the green light to Granit Xhaka to move to Bayer Leverkusen.

Just how else Mikel Arteta will strengthen his squad is a mystery, with the thought on outgoings to generate funds rather than incomings to take place over the next couple of weeks.

But for now, the excitement of Rice finally becoming a Gooner won’t be dampened as the one player Arteta wanted all summer long is finally in his squad.