While Arsenal’s players huddled around screens in London Colney, awaiting the decisive moments of their title showdown, Declan Rice chose a different path to manage his racing thoughts. The England international revealed he escaped the emotional turmoil by pacing the club’s training pitches, accompanied by security guard Pete, during the pivotal clash between Manchester City and Bournemouth.

« For the first 40 minutes, we walked every available pitch. Just chatting about anything and everything, » Rice explained. « Then we heard the roar, so we came back in for the opener. I thought, ‘Here we go again.’ We returned with five minutes left, and it was all but over—but I still couldn’t bring myself to watch. »

Teammate Bukayo Saka couldn’t help but laugh at Rice’s antics. « He did about twelve laps of the training ground, » Saka recalled. « The rest of us were glued to the TV. He just couldn’t watch. It was hilarious. »

Recruited by Arsenal in 2023, Rice described the Premier League triumph as « incredibly moving, » ending a 22-year drought for the club. He paid tribute to Saka’s lifelong dedication to the Gunners’ cause: « He’s been here since he was six or seven. Think about what that means to him—this is pure Arsenal spirit. »

« For me, it’s been three years with three agonising near-misses. Winning today with this squad is why I joined. I just knew we’d get there. I could feel it in my bones. There was something special about this group, this club’s trajectory. I had a strong hunch we’d achieve it—and we did, in the most perfect way possible. »

The celebrations didn’t end at the training ground. Saka disclosed that several players made an impromptu stop at Emirates Stadium in the early hours, joining fans who had stayed up to revel in the achievement. What began as a quiet moment of reflection turned into a raucous gathering.

« It was crazy, absolutely crazy, » Saka admitted. « Sorry if my voice sounds off—I’m still losing it. But yeah, the whole night was special, from the training ground straight through to the stadium. We didn’t want to sleep. I didn’t need sleep. »

Arsenal will lift the Premier League trophy on Sunday at Crystal Palace, having already secured the title before the final matchday. Now, their sights are set on a historic double, with the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain scheduled for 30 May in Budapest.