Declan Rice has backed new Arsenal signing Noni Madueke to "shock a lot of people" after completing his transfer from Chelsea earlier this month. 

Madueke arrived at the Emirates Stadium for a reported £48.5m initial transfer fee, which could increase further with add-ons. 

The 23-year-old is expected to provide back-up for Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side of Arsenal's attack, though many Gunners fans have questioned the big-money move. 

In the Premier League last season, Madueke completed 45 dribbles, four more than Saka, who topped that metric for Mikel Arteta's side. 

He also registered 10 goal involvements (seven goals, three assists) in the competition in 2024-25, a total that would have ranked him seventh in Arsenal's squad last year. 

And while there are concerns from the outside, Rice has no doubts that his England team-mate will shine for the Gunners in his debut campaign. 

"There's obviously been a lot of talk around his signing," Rice said. "I didn't like it, if I'm speaking honestly. But I know how driven he is.

"I've spoken to him, and you're going to see what he's about this season. As football players, and players that have played with him, we know the quality he has.

"He's so driven, and he's proven. He wants to prove, and show everyone, what he can do, and I think you're going to see that. There's a hunger inside his belly.

"When he signed, he had like 10 or 11 people with him — that excitement, it's a good thing. He's hungry, He wants to play for Arsenal, and those are the type of players we want.

"It's so positive. I think he’s going to shock a lot of people, and I can’t wait for him to come."

Madueke is one of four new additions for Arsenal this season, with the club having already completed deals for Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga. 

Arsenal are expected to strengthen further, with Valencia's Cristhian Mosquera reportedly close to finalising his move to north London, as well as Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres.

And Rice believes further signings will only improve the team, after several injuries derailed their title challenge last campaign.

"Let's be real, last year we hardly had any depth in any areas," Rice added.

"We played half the season, pretty much, with so many injuries, so to now be able to rotate and push in different competitions with different players is going to be really good. That's key for us."

And Rice has revealed the targets he has set himself for the upcoming campaign, having ended last season in fine form playing in a more advanced midfield role. 

Indeed, he registered 19 goal involvements (nine goals, 10 assists) in all competitions last season, with only Saka (25) having a hand in more for Arsenal. 

"I'm putting really big demands on myself this year. I'm trying to push myself because, the back end of the season, I finished strong," Rice said. 

"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.

"Coming off the back of the Euros final (with England) was mentally tough. Having 16 days off, going straight back into a Premier League season — it was really hard.

"It took me a few months to get going again. But now I’m getting a full pre-season, I feel really fit, strong, and I’m going to try and kick off the season strong.

"I have the capacity to play No 6 if needed, but we obviously have Zubimendi, who we've signed, and Norgaard, who has been incredible.

"The manager sees me as a box-to-box player. At the back-end of last season, off the back of Christmas, I showed fully what I can do in that position and kicked on. There's so much room for growth in that area for me.

"I'm looking forward to the season and have set myself some good targets that I want to try and hit: 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."

"The best players in the world do that. They want to try and push themselves. That’s what I'm trying to do — and the manager is certainly on me to do that as well."