Arsenal fans turn on Declan Rice after what he said on air following Man United draw
Arsenal fans have turned their frustration towards Declan Rice following his post-match comments after the 1-1 draw with Manchester United, despite his goal.
Arsenal dropped points for the third consecutive Premier League game, dealing another blow to their title hopes.
Bruno Fernandes put Man United ahead just before half-time with a stunning free-kick, but Rice rescued a point for Arsenal with a well-taken goal in the second half.
Arsenal fans were frustrated at players such as Leandro Trossard during the game as the performance and attacking display failed to impress, with the title looking likely to head to Anfield.
However, it wasn’t just the on-pitch display that frustrated fans—Rice’s comments after the match also sparked debate among the Arsenal faithful.
Declan Rice calls out Arsenal teammates for ‘stupidity’ against Man United
The England international gave a brutally honest assessment of Arsenal’s performance after their 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, criticising his teammates for their decision-making late in the game.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Rice said: “In the second half, we did things we haven’t done all season. We were very naive in the last 10 minutes and could easily have handed the game to Man United.”
“It was a bit of stupidity from us…”
Arsenal supporters have previously criticised Rice this season and his comments didn’t sit well with some supporters. The Gunners now sit 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool in what has been a campaign hampered by injuries.
Gabriel Martinelli returned against United but struggled to make an impact, while Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz all remain sidelined.
Despite the frustrations, Rice has remained vital to Mikel Arteta’s side, featuring 38 times this season, scoring four goals, and registering eight assists. However, with him being deployed in both defensive and central midfield roles, questions persist about his long-term position in the team.
| Match stats | Man United | Arsenal |
| Shots | 10 | 17 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 6 |
| Possession | 31% | 69% |
| Fouls | 8 | 11 |
Arsenal fans turn on Rice as pressure mounts on Arteta
Arsenal fans have called for Arteta to be sacked this season after inconsistent performances and with their only chance of silverware this season being the Champions League.
The title race appears out of reach, and a lack of attacking reinforcements in January has forced the manager to rely on Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker.
While Rice was one of the few bright spots in the United game, some supporters took issue with his post-match remarks. One fan wrote: “He talks too much” and that he should “learn how to control the game’s tempo.”