'Massive' - Man City captain reveals how Mikel Arteta and Arsenal have improved England team

Kyle Walker believes Declan Rice joining Arsenal will help England prosper in major tournaments.

Eyebrows were raised when the Gunners stumped up £105million to sign the midfielder last summer. Rice was a Three Lions regular but, at West Ham United, was untested at the highest level.

The 25-year-old, released from Chelsea as a schoolboy, led the Hammers to Europa Conference League glory - a feat that proved his final act at the club. Arsenal soon swooped in but there were many questioning the transfer fee, with Rice becoming the most expensive British player ever.

However, his dominating midfield performances in the Premier League and Europe have put those doubters to bed. Arsenal’s talisman remains a stalwart for Gareth Southgate at international level and, providing he stays fit, is a shoo-in to start in this summer’s Euros.

Rice could earn his 50th England cap against Belgium tomorrow, less than five years after switching allegiances from the Republic of Ireland. Speaking to the Vibe with Five podcast, Manchester City captain Walker hailed Rice’s move to Arsenal as “massive” for the Three Lions.

“Especially how I think he could benefit England with B (Bukayo Saka),” he said. “Declan being at Arsenal now is massive. I’m not saying he wasn’t a very good player at West Ham but knowing possession-based football (is huge).

“I think we got to certain phases, especially in Russia (2018 World Cup) when (Kieran) Trippier scored and then in the Euros when Luke (Shaw) scored, we scored too early and didn't control the game. Now I feel, especially in the last two fixtures, we scored, we were winning, and we played in their half still.

“Before, we scored against Croatia in Russia and they just ran over us with experience. And against Italy, it was, ‘right, just hang on and pray’. But once you get that many corners and that many good attacks with international players, if you don’t do that process (and) start making it a transitional game, (it’s a case of) flipping a coin and seeing what happens.”