Rice’s unique approach to a historic moment
While most Arsenal players were glued to screens at London Colney, eagerly tracking the final moments of the title race, Declan Rice adopted a distinct strategy. The midfielder confessed that the tension during the decisive Manchester City versus Bournemouth match became so overwhelming he chose to walk the training pitches to maintain his composure.
“I grabbed Pete, the security guard, and for the first 40 minutes, we just walked around every single 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 back, I promised myself I’d tell everyone to stay put. We returned five minutes before the end, it was sealed, but I still couldn’t bring myself to watch.”
His teammate, Bukayo Saka, found the scene “ridiculous,” explaining, “He must have done about twelve laps of the training pitch. We were all watching the match on TV. He just couldn’t watch it. It was hilarious.”
A deeply emotional triumph for the midfielder
Signed by Arsenal in 2023, Rice described the Premier League victory as an “unbelievably emotional” moment, marking the end of a 22-year wait for the club. He particularly lauded the journey of Saka, who has been with the club since childhood: “He’s been here since the beginning, since he was six or seven. Imagine how 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 start. He’s a true academy product, I believe, since he was six or seven years old. 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 group is precisely why I came here. I knew we would achieve it. I just felt it. I had a strong 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.”
Saka describes the celebrations as ‘absolute madness’
The celebrations extended beyond the training ground: Saka revealed that several players made an impromptu detour to the Emirates Stadium in the early hours to fully savor their achievement. What was intended as a moment of quiet reflection transformed into a memorable encounter with devoted Gunners supporters, who had stayed awake to join the festivities.
“It was madness, absolute madness. Apologies for my voice, I’m still trying to get it back,” Saka explained. “But yes, the whole night was special, from the training ground to the party afterwards. 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 will lift the Premier League trophy on Sunday at Crystal Palace. Having already secured the title before the final matchday, the Gunners are now setting their sights on an unprecedented double as they prepare for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, scheduled to take place in Budapest on May 30.
By Cécile Mboua — Political News Writer