Declan Rice says Gabriel Martinelli is faster than Bukayo Saka, outlines Arsenal season aims - exclusive

Declan Rice reveals "so sharp" team-mate Gabriel Martinelli has surprised him the most since he joined Arsenal this summer.

Rice completed a move to Arsenal from West Ham in July for a club-record fee of £105m and played in a midfield three alongside Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz on his league debut for the Gunners in their 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The England international met up with TNT Sports' Rio Ferdinand for a chat at Arsenal's London Colney training base. Watch the interview in full live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ at 18:45 UK time on August 16.

The 24-year-old was asked which player has surprised him most in training, and he picked out his Brazilian team-mate Martinelli, who grabbed an assist for Eddie Nketiah's opening goal against Forest at the Emirates Stadium.

Rice said: "When we were away in America [in pre-season], I've never seen someone so sharp in training as Martinelli."

Rice also insists Martinelli is quicker than fellow winger Bukayo Saka in a sprint, but that the pair form a "frightening" duo on the flanks.

"He's so sharp," he added. "Martinelli is faster than Saka [in a sprint]. 100%. Those two on the wings is frightening."

Martin Odegaard has been the Arsenal captain since the beginning of the 2022-23 season.

Rice was himself the captain of the West Ham team that won their first European trophy since 1965 by lifting the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy in Prague in June.

The England midfielder says that his role in the dressing room is to add to the team of leaders that Arsenal already have, but he will not "shy away" from making his voice heard.

"I feel like obviously we have some big international players here," he said.

"International captains. Obviously, Martin [Odegaard] is our skipper. Because we have these other big characters as well it's just for me to add. I'm not going to shy away from what I was at West Ham.

"If I've got something to say I'll say it and if I can help anyone I'll help, but of course there's loads of other big captains as well. The leadership group is really good. It's about just sticking together and trying to push each other as much as possible."

Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title last season, finishing the 2022/23 campaign in second, five points behind Manchester City.

Rice says it is time Arsenal start winning silverware again, having not won a trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2020.

He said: "I feel like Arsenal, I said it when I signed, it's about time Arsenal start competing for big trophies again.

"It's so exciting with the young players we have, the manager, the energy around now with the fans and around the crowd. We demand that of ourselves. We're not just here to play for Arsenal. It's a big club playing at the Emirates in front of 60,000, we want to win now."

Rice also struggled to hide his excitement at the prospect of making his UEFA Champions League debut this season.

"I've been to a Champions League game as a fan," he said.

"To now be playing there and just envisioning it is going to be so exciting. Especially at the Emirates as well, it's going to be so exciting to have it.

"It's an important season, a good season coming, more pressure but we're ready."

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