Declan Rice sends ‘tough’ message to Arsenal fans after they destroy him
Declan Rice scored the crucial equaliser for Arsenal as the Gunners came away with a point against Man United at Old Trafford.
Arsenal battled back from a goal down against Man United, with Rice’s second-half strike cancelling out Bruno Fernandes’ brilliant free-kick in a 1-1 draw.
However, it marked yet another setback in the Gunners’ title challenge, as they have now dropped points in three consecutive Premier League games and sit 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
Arsenal fans voiced their frustration with several players, including Leandro Trossard, as their depleted attack struggled to make a real impact. Despite registering 17 shots, only six were on target, leaving supporters disappointed with their lack of cutting edge.
After the match, Rice was criticised by Arsenal supporters after he called out the team’s “stupidity” in a post-match interview. However, despite the backlash, the England midfielder still sent a message to supporters, showing his commitment to the team’s fight for the remainder of the season.
| Match stats | Declan Rice |
| Minutes played | 90+ |
| Goals | 1 |
| Ground duels (won) | 4 (2) |
| Tackles | 1 |
William Saliba and Ethan Nwaneri show support for Declan Rice after Arsenal’s draw
Rice shared his thoughts after the draw, posting a brief but impactful message on Instagram: “A tough battle.”
The midfielder’s post was met with plenty of support from his Arsenal teammates, with William Saliba, Ethan Nwaneri, and Gabriel Magalhaes among those showing their appreciation for his efforts.
Rice has faced scrutiny from the Arsenal faithful at times this season, as he has been deployed in both defensive midfield and central midfield roles, leaving some to question his long-term position.
With Arsenal linked to potential midfield reinforcements like Joshua Kimmich and Martin Zubimendi, it seems likely that Rice will continue to play as a box-to-box midfielder under Mikel Arteta.
Despite the positional changes, he has been crucial to the Gunners’ campaign, making 38 appearances, scoring four goals, and providing eight assists.
Mikel Arteta’s job under pressure as Arsenal’s silverware chances dwindle
The Gunners’ season has been plagued with injuries, leaving them without key players for significant stretches. Arsenal fans voiced frustration at their owners after they failed to sign an attacking reinforcement in January, with injuries piling up and Mikel Merino now playing upfront.
This lack of depth has been evident in Arsenal’s underwhelming performances, with key players like Rice and Martin Odegaard not replicating the form that made them so influential last season.
The pressure from Arsenal fans on Arteta is growing, with fans questioning whether the manager can guide the team to success.
With the Premier League title now slipping out of reach, they appear set to finish as runners-up for a third consecutive season, leaving their only hope for silverware in the Champions League.