'Just because I've been signed for £105m' - Arsenal star Declan Rice insists price tag isn't weighing on him and claims he hasn't surprised himself with fine form

The England international has enjoyed a rich vein of form since completing a big-money move from West Ham to Arsenal in the summer. He was recently named the Premier League Player of the Year at the 2024 Football London Awards.

In an interview with ESPN, the Gunners star claimed he is not surprised by his current run of form as he claimed that his performance level has been the same as it was while playing for the Hammers.

Rice said, "I'll be honest, some people might stand here and say 'Yeah, I've surprised myself,' but I haven't. I was playing this well at West Ham, I feel like my levels at West Ham gave me so much confidence and belief in myself to have that belief I can be a top Premier League player.

"But the main thing was to be myself. Not to change anything. Just because I have been signed for £105 million, don't do anything different, just be myself. Things can unlock and so far things have gone really well. I've signed for six years and there is still such a long way to go in my Arsenal career."

In the current season, the 25-year-old has appeared in 36 matches across all competitions where he scored four goals and provided six assists. The English midfielder has contributed massively to the team's performance who have won their last six matches in the league and are currently third on the table, two points behind leaders Liverpool and one behind second-placed Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta's side will aim to continue their Premier League winning streak when they face Sheffield United away from home on Monday.