Arsenal: Declan Rice says Noni Madueke will shock fans

Arsenal have been active in the transfer market and have completed deals for Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga, with Cristhian Mosquera and Viktor Gyokeres expected to follow shortly.

Rice finished the season playing for Arsenal as a more advanced number eight and, with the signings of Norgaard and Zubimendi, it is expected that is where he will continue playing for the Gunners.

“I think the manager now sees me as a box-to-box player and I think at the back end of last season, off the back of Christmas, I showed fully what I can do in that position and I really kicked on.”

Rice scored nine goals and registered 10 assists in all competitions for Arsenal last season and is looking to better those numbers this campaign.

“I’m putting really big demands on myself this year,” he said. “I’m really trying to push myself because the back end of the season I finished really, really strong.

“At the start of the season last year I was nowhere near the level that I require of myself.

“I put it down to a few things – the back of the Euros final was mentally really tough, having 16 days off, going straight back into a Premier League season.

“More goals. More assists. Impact the games more. Not just do it at the back end of the season; do it in a full season and set myself some numbers.

“I think the best players in the world do that. They want to try and push themselves and that’s what I’m trying to do and the manager is certainly on me to do that as well.”