Ex-Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit believes West Ham captain Declan Rice should opt to join the Gunners this summer.

The England international has been heavily linked with his boyhood team Chelsea, along with the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City but Petit feels a switch to the Emirates would be the right move for the player:

“I know that Chelsea wants him, but if I were Declan Rice, I wouldn’t go to Chelsea, I would go to Arsenal. The two clubs are going in different directions and the way Arsenal is playing, he would be the perfect option for Arsenal.”

Arsenal have emerged as a potential suitor for Rice in recent weeks, although it is still thought that their interest is rather tentative compared to some of their Premier League rivals.

A lot may depend on what it would cost to sign the 23-year-old. Valuations over £100m have been widely reported but there is a feeling that he could be sold for just £70m at the end of the season.

Rice has rejected a number of offers to extend his contract and West Ham may have to reluctantly sell up to prevent his value from dropping any further. We shall see if Mikel Arteta’s side do formally enter the running for his signature.