Chris Sutton has aimed a jibe at Arsenal by telling West Ham United captain Declan Rice to ‘play for Leyton Orient’ if he wants to stay in London amid Manchester City’s transfer interest in the midfielder. 

The former striker thinks there is no debate and if Declan Rice had to pick between Arsenal and Manchester City, then he goes to the team that has the chance to win the most trophies.

Given that Pep Guardiola’s side have just won the Treble, then it’s pretty hard to argue against them, as Sutton added if Rice moves to the Emirates, then he’s ‘not going to the best club in the country’, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport on 606.

Things would have been a lot different for the Gunners in the transfer market had they been able to hold onto that sustained lead they had at the top of the Premier League last season.

But for Arteta, it’s a case of dusting yourself off, setting the same platform again, but this time, getting over that line during the pressure-cooker final few months of the season.

In order for that to happen, he needs players like Rice on board, but Sutton has made it clear what the 24-year-old should do.

“I doubt if he is a London boy, whether that makes any difference,” said Sutton. “If he likes London that much, then why doesn’t he play for Leyton Orient or something?

“He’s not going to the best club in the country (if he joins Arsenal) and that’s the point. Everyone admires what Arsenal and Arteta did, but they fell away.

“Would you have ambition if you are Declan Rice? Where is he likely to win trophies? Arsenal or Manchester City?”

Rice brave joining Arsenal

If Rice won the Premier League title under Guardiola, in comparison to doing it at the Emirates, then he will have more credit for the latter than the former – Owen Hargreaves previously stated that West Ham’s ‘diamond’ player has the ‘right’ to push for those trophies.

The simple reason is that Man City win trophies in their sleep now, whilst Arsenal have had to wait nearly 20 years to end their title drought.

If you are part of that team which brings the title to Arsenal, then you will be a bigger legend than if you did it at the current champions.