Midfielder Declan Rice has shared the immense pressure he felt as Arsenal awaited Manchester City’s crucial match, which ultimately decided the Premier League title race. The England international admitted he had to distance himself from his teammates, finding it impossible to watch the pivotal game unfold on television.
Rice’s unique approach to title glory
While most Arsenal players were glued to screens at London Colney, closely following the final moments of the title chase, Declan Rice chose a very different method to cope. The central midfielder disclosed that the tension during Manchester City’s decisive match against Bournemouth became so unbearable that he opted to walk around the training grounds to maintain his composure.
“I grabbed the security guard, Pete, and for the first 40 minutes, we just walked around every single pitch, chatting about anything and everything,” Rice explained. “Then we heard the roar, so we came back for the first goal. I thought, ‘Here we go again.’ On the way, I promised myself I’d tell everyone to stay put. We returned with five minutes left, it was sealed, but I still couldn’t bring myself to watch.”
Teammate Bukayo Saka described the situation as “ridiculous.” He elaborated, “He must have done about twelve laps of the training pitch. We were all watching the game on TV. He just couldn’t watch it. It was hilarious.”
An emotional triumph for the midfielder
Rice, who joined Arsenal in 2023, characterized the Premier League victory as an “unbelievably emotional” milestone, marking the end of a 22-year drought for the club. He particularly lauded the journey of Bukayo Saka, an academy product who has been with the club since childhood. “He’s been here since the beginning, since he was six or seven years old. Imagine how he feels; this is true Arsenal now,” Rice stated. “It’s emotional. It’s been 22 years we’ve been waiting for this. He’s been here from the start, a real product of the academy since he was six or seven, I think. So for him, God knows how he feels, because for me, he’s a true Arsenal legend.”
“Personally, I’ve been here for three years and experienced three narrowly lost finals. So, to win it today with this group is why I came. I knew we would achieve it. I just felt it. I had a good feeling about this club, these players, and the direction they were heading. I knew we would eventually get there, and it happened in the most beautiful way possible.”
Saka calls celebrations “insane”
The celebrations extended beyond the training ground. Saka disclosed that several players made an impromptu detour to the Emirates Stadium in the early hours of the morning to fully absorb their achievement. What was intended as a quiet reflection quickly evolved into a memorable encounter with loyal Gunners supporters, who had remained awake to partake in the festivities.
“It was insane, pure madness. Apologies for my voice, I’m still trying to get it back,” Saka explained. “But yes, the entire night was special, from the training ground to the party. And then at the Emirates too, we really had a great time. Personally, I didn’t really want to sleep. I didn’t need any sleep.”
Champions League final on the horizon
Mikel Arteta’s squad is set to lift the Premier League trophy on Sunday at Crystal Palace. With the title already secured before the final matchday, the Gunners are now targeting a historic double as they prepare for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, scheduled to take place in Budapest on May 30.
