Declan Rice admitted he was “fuming” after his return to Arsenal action ended with a brace against Bournemouth.
The midfielder was back in the side and made an instant impact, finding the net twice as Arsenal came out on top. But Rice revealed afterwards that his frustration was not about the result, but the personal setback he had been dealing with before getting back on the pitch.
“I was fuming,” Rice said, explaining how much it had bothered him to be away and how determined he was to respond once he got his chance again.
Rice’s goals proved decisive on the day, with the England international underlining his importance in both boxes. His first finished off a strong Arsenal spell, before he struck again to put clear daylight between the teams and take control of the contest.
After the match, Rice spoke with clear emotion about what it meant to return and contribute in such a direct way. He also made it clear that he had been desperate to play his part, and that the disappointment of being sidelined had been driving him.
The 25-year-old’s honesty added extra context to his display, with Rice revealing just how angry he had been at missing out, before turning that feeling into a match-winning performance for Arsenal against Bournemouth.
