Declan Rice’s nerves and Arsenal’s historic Premier League win
Declan Rice’s emotional rollercoaster during Arsenal’s nail-biting Premier League decider against Manchester City has been revealed, as the England international admitted he was too overwhelmed to watch the match unfold.
With Arsenal’s title hopes hanging by a thread, Rice chose an unconventional escape from the tension—taking twelve laps around the training grounds at London Colney alongside security guard Pete. Their walk, peppered with light-hearted banter, lasted nearly 40 minutes before the roar of the crowd signaled the first goal. By then, Rice had already made up his mind: he wouldn’t watch the game.
An unusual strategy for dealing with pressure
Speaking candidly about his unorthodox coping mechanism, Rice shared: « Pete and I walked every available pitch. We talked about everything under the sun—football, life, you name it. When we heard the roar, we knew something had happened, so we rushed back. I kept telling myself, ‘This is it.’ We got back with five minutes left, the game was effectively over, but I still couldn’t bring myself to look. »
His teammate Bukayo Saka couldn’t help but laugh at the lengths Rice went to avoid the television. « He did about twelve laps of the training ground, » Saka recounted. « We were all watching the match, but he couldn’t. It was ridiculous—hilarious, really. »
A moment of redemption after years of near misses
For Rice, the victory marked the end of a 22-year wait for Arsenal, a club he joined in 2023 after three agonizingly close final defeats. « It’s incredibly moving, » he said of the triumph. « For Bukayo, who’s been at the club since he was six or seven years old, I can only imagine what he’s feeling. He’s a true Arsenal product, a legend in the making. »
The midfielder also reflected on his own journey: « I’ve been here for three years, and I’ve lost three finals by the slimmest of margins. Today, winning with this group is why I came to Arsenal. I knew it would happen—I just felt it. I had a good feeling about this club, this team, and where we were heading. And it happened in the most beautiful way possible. »
Celebrations that spilled into the night
The jubilation didn’t end at the training ground. Saka revealed that several players made an impromptu trip to Emirates Stadium in the early hours to soak in the moment with the loyal Arsenal faithful, who had stayed up to celebrate. « It was crazy—pure madness, » Saka admitted, his voice still hoarse from shouting. « I didn’t sleep at all. I didn’t need to. The whole night was special, from the training ground to the celebrations at the stadium. »
What’s next for Arsenal?
With the Premier League trophy secured in a dominant display at Crystal Palace, Arsenal now set their sights on an unprecedented double. The Gunners will face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final on May 30 in Budapest, adding another layer of excitement to an unforgettable season. The resurgence of Arsenal under Mikel Arteta has captivated football fans worldwide, proving that patience and perseverance can rewrite history.
