Sport nationDeclan Rice explains how Arsene Wenger still influences Arsenal after Mikel Arteta’s plea
Despite leaving Arsenal back in 2018, Arsene Wenger still has an influence on the dressing room and Declan Rice has opened up on his exchange with the ex-Gunners boss
Declan Rice has hailed Arsene Wenger
Declan Rice has hailed Arsene Wenger
Declan Rice admits he was “star-struck” meeting former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and feels it is a “shame” he never had chance to play under him.
Rice, 24, joined the Gunners for a club record £105million fee in the summer and has since started in every Premier League and Champions League match this season. The England international netted his first goal in the 3-1 win over Manchester United and scored another in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea.
During his time at the Emirates so far, Rice has had the privilege to meet Wenger, who is Arsenal’s most successful ever manager after winning several major honours during his 22-year stint at the club. Speaking to BeIN SPORTS, Rice detailed how much the Frenchman still has an impact on Arsenal, despite Wenger leaving five years ago.
“He’s [Wenger] spoken about all the time,” Rice said. “If you look at managers of other clubs in the past that have left, they maybe don’t quite have that legacy or the same way they’re spoken about. With Arsene, every player you speak to, he’s like a god to them.
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“When I met him for the first time, I was a bit star-struck in a way like ‘wow that’s Arsene Wenger’ in terms of the stories you hear from players, the way he used to coach and way he used to have his teams playing. It was an honour to meet him, shame I couldn’t play under him but it was great to meet him in the end and hopefully many more times to come.”
Wenger made his first return back to the Emirates since his departure for last year’s Boxing Day game against West Ham. It was a surprise to many that their former boss hadn’t been back for four-and-a-half years, but Arteta, who played under Wenger at Arsenal, revealed he helped make that happen.
“No, the players didn’t know,” Arteta said at the time. “We wanted to keep it quiet and allow that space for Arsene. A very special day, thank you so much to him for coming.
Arsene Wenger made his first return to the Emirates in December 2022
Arsene Wenger made his first return to the Emirates in December 2022 ( Image: Getty Images)
“Hopefully walking through the building he’s going to feel everything that he left here as well. His presence is something that has to be very, very attached to this football club so thank (him) for doing that because it means a lot for everybody at the club.”
Arteta also expressed his hope that Wenger – who faced significant backlash from Arsenal fans before his forced exit – would return to the club and have a greater input on the club’s work moving forward.
“I’ve been involved in the process (of bringing him) but it’s about him, the timing he needed to make that step and hopefully he’s going to be willing to spend more time with us and be around us because he is such an influence — for me personally, in my career, the way I see the game but as well for this football club,” Arteta said.
A statue of Wenger was unveiled outside of the Emirates in July to pay tribute to Wenger, who won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups during his time at Arsenal. “It’s such a great tribute that the club has done something special for Arsene that he fully deserves and merits,” Arteta said in July.
“With a statue now at the stadium, Arsene can have that recognition and be here at our club forever. I’m so grateful to have played for Arsene at this club in my career. He chose me to be one of his players and selected me to be the captain of the club and that’s something I will never forget.”
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Declan Rice explains how Arsene Wenger still influences Arsenal after Mikel Arteta’s plea
Despite leaving Arsenal back in 2018, Arsene Wenger still has an influence on the dressing room and Declan Rice has opened up on his exchange with the ex-Gunners boss
Declan Rice has hailed Arsene Wenger
Declan Rice has hailed Arsene Wenger
Declan Rice admits he was “star-struck” meeting former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and feels it is a “shame” he never had chance to play under him.
Rice, 24, joined the Gunners for a club record £105million fee in the summer and has since started in every Premier League and Champions League match this season. The England international netted his first goal in the 3-1 win over Manchester United and scored another in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea.
During his time at the Emirates so far, Rice has had the privilege to meet Wenger, who is Arsenal’s most successful ever manager after winning several major honours during his 22-year stint at the club. Speaking to BeIN SPORTS, Rice detailed how much the Frenchman still has an impact on Arsenal, despite Wenger leaving five years ago.
“He’s [Wenger] spoken about all the time,” Rice said. “If you look at managers of other clubs in the past that have left, they maybe don’t quite have that legacy or the same way they’re spoken about. With Arsene, every player you speak to, he’s like a god to them.
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“When I met him for the first time, I was a bit star-struck in a way like ‘wow that’s Arsene Wenger’ in terms of the stories you hear from players, the way he used to coach and way he used to have his teams playing. It was an honour to meet him, shame I couldn’t play under him but it was great to meet him in the end and hopefully many more times to come.”
Wenger made his first return back to the Emirates since his departure for last year’s Boxing Day game against West Ham. It was a surprise to many that their former boss hadn’t been back for four-and-a-half years, but Arteta, who played under Wenger at Arsenal, revealed he helped make that happen.
“No, the players didn’t know,” Arteta said at the time. “We wanted to keep it quiet and allow that space for Arsene. A very special day, thank you so much to him for coming.
Arsene Wenger made his first return to the Emirates in December 2022
Arsene Wenger made his first return to the Emirates in December 2022 ( Image: Getty Images)
“Hopefully walking through the building he’s going to feel everything that he left here as well. His presence is something that has to be very, very attached to this football club so thank (him) for doing that because it means a lot for everybody at the club.”
Arteta also expressed his hope that Wenger – who faced significant backlash from Arsenal fans before his forced exit – would return to the club and have a greater input on the club’s work moving forward.
“I’ve been involved in the process (of bringing him) but it’s about him, the timing he needed to make that step and hopefully he’s going to be willing to spend more time with us and be around us because he is such an influence — for me personally, in my career, the way I see the game but as well for this football club,” Arteta said.
A statue of Wenger was unveiled outside of the Emirates in July to pay tribute to Wenger, who won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups during his time at Arsenal. “It’s such a great tribute that the club has done something special for Arsene that he fully deserves and merits,” Arteta said in July.
“With a statue now at the stadium, Arsene can have that recognition and be here at our club forever. I’m so grateful to have played for Arsene at this club in my career. He chose me to be one of his players and selected me to be the captain of the club and that’s something I will never forget.”
Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
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