• Rice’s unique path to Premier League glory

  While most Arsenal players were glued to screens at London Colney, anxiously watching the final moments of the title race, Declan Rice adopted an unconventional coping mechanism. The midfielder disclosed that the unbearable tension during Manchester City’s crucial match against Bournemouth led him to embark on an extensive walk around the training pitches to maintain his composure.

  “I grabbed Pete, the security guard, and for the first 40 minutes, we just walked around every pitch possible. We talked about absolutely everything,” Rice recounted. “Then we heard the roar, so we came back for the first goal. I told myself, ‘Here we go again.’ On the way back, I promised myself I’d tell everyone to stay put. We returned with five minutes left, and it was sealed, 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 ground. We were all watching the game on TV. He just couldn’t watch it. It was hilarious.”

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• A deeply moving achievement for the star midfielder

  Signed by Arsenal in 2023, Rice characterized the Premier League triumph as an “incredibly emotional” milestone, bringing an end to the club’s 22-year drought. He paid tribute to Saka’s journey, a product of the club’s academy since childhood: “He’s been here since the beginning, since he was six or seven. Imagine what he’s feeling; this is true Arsenal now.” Rice elaborated, “It’s emotional. It’s been 22 years in the making. He’s been here from the start. A real 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 narrowly lost finals. So, winning today with this group is precisely why I came. 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’d eventually get there, and it happened in the most beautiful way possible.”

• Saka recounts the ‘insane’ celebrations

  The celebrations extended beyond the training ground, as Saka disclosed that several players made an impromptu early morning detour to the Emirates Stadium to fully absorb their monumental achievement. What began as a moment of quiet reflection transformed into a memorable encounter with loyal Gunners supporters, who had stayed awake to join the festivities.

  “It was insane, pure 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. And then at the Emirates too, we really had a fantastic time. Personally, I didn’t really feel like sleeping. 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 clinched the title before the final matchday, the Gunners are now focused on achieving a historic double as they prepare for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, scheduled to take place in Budapest on May 30.

By Thomas Nkoulou — Economic and Political News Writer