declan rice’s nervous ordeal as arsenal secure first premier league title in 22 years
rice’s unique approach to handling title race tension
While most Arsenal players were glued to screens at London Colney, eagerly tracking the final moments of the title race, Declan Rice adopted a distinctly personal strategy. The midfielder disclosed that the tension became so overwhelming during the crucial Manchester City fixture that he opted for an extended walk around the training grounds to maintain his composure.
“I took the security guard, Pete, and for the first 40 minutes, we walked every possible pitch. We talked 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, I promised myself to tell everyone to stay put. We returned five minutes before the end; it was settled, but I still couldn’t bring myself to watch.”
His teammate, Bukayo Saka, described the scene as “ridiculous,” explaining, “He must have done a dozen 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
Signed by Arsenal in 2023, Rice characterized the Premier League victory as an “unbelievably emotional” moment, marking the end of a 22-year wait for the club. He lauded the journey of Saka, who has been with the club since childhood: “He’s been here since the start, from six or seven years old. Imagine what he’s feeling; this is truly Arsenal now.” Rice further elaborated, “It’s emotional. We’ve waited 22 years for this. He’s been here from the very beginning. He’s a genuine academy product, from, I believe, six or seven years old. So for him, only God knows what he’s feeling, because for me, he’s a true Arsenal legend.”
“As for myself, I’ve been here for three years and experienced three agonizingly close defeats in finals. So, to win it today with this group is precisely 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 possible.”
saka describes celebrations as ‘absolute madness’
The revelry 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 savor this monumental achievement. What began as a moment of reflection transformed into a memorable encounter with loyal Gunners supporters, who had remained awake to celebrate.
“It was madness, absolute 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 fantastic time. Personally, I didn’t really feel like sleeping. I didn’t need sleep.”
champions league final now in sight
Mikel Arteta’s squad is set to hoist the Premier League trophy on Sunday at Crystal Palace. With the title already secured before the season’s final matchday, the Gunners are now targeting a historic double as they gear up for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, scheduled to take place in Budapest on May 30.
