Declan Rice’s intense anxiety as Arsenal secured their first premier league title in 22 years

Declan Rice has revealed the immense pressure he experienced while Arsenal awaited Manchester City’s slip-up, hoping to clinch their inaugural Premier League title in 22 years. The England international confessed to temporarily isolating himself from his teammates, unable to bear watching the decisive match unfold on television.

• Rice’s unique approach to title glory

  While most Arsenal players were glued to screens at London Colney, tracking the final moments of the title race, Declan Rice adopted a distinct strategy. The midfielder disclosed that the tension became so overwhelming during the critical Manchester City versus Bournemouth game that he opted for an extended walk around the training grounds to maintain his composure.

  “I grabbed Pete, the security guard, and for the first 40 minutes, we just walked around every single pitch. We were talking about anything and everything,” Rice recounted. “Then we heard the roar, so we came back for the first goal. I thought, ‘Here we go again.’ On the way back, I promised myself I’d tell everyone to stay in their seats. We returned with five minutes left, it was done, but I still couldn’t bring myself to watch.”

  His teammate Bukayo Saka described the scene as “ridiculous,” explaining, “He must have done about 12 laps of the training pitch. We were all watching the game on TV. He just couldn’t watch it. It was hilarious.”

Publicité
• An emotional milestone for the midfielder

  Having joined Arsenal in 2023, Rice described the Premier League victory as an “unbelievably emotional” moment, marking the end of the club’s 22-year title drought. He lauded Saka’s journey, a product of the club’s academy since childhood: “He’s been here since the start, from six or seven years old. Imagine what he feels; this is truly Arsenal now.” Rice elaborated, “It’s emotional. We’ve waited 22 years for this. He’s been here from the beginning. He’s a true academy product, since he was six or seven, I believe. So for him, God knows what he’s feeling, because for me, he’s a true Arsenal legend.”

  “For my part, I’ve been here for three years and experienced three narrow final losses. So, to win it today with this squad, that’s why I came here. I knew we would achieve it. I just felt it. I had a strong intuition 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.”

• Saka describes celebration as ‘pure madness’

  The celebrations didn’t conclude at the training ground: Saka revealed 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 transformed into a memorable encounter with loyal Gunners supporters, who had stayed awake to partake in the festivities.

  “It was madness, pure madness. Sorry about my voice, I’m still trying to find it,” Saka explained. “But yes, the whole 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. Having already secured the title 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.