Declan Rice: 'We're Playing Well' – Arsenal's Title Charge or Delusional Bubble?
Declan Rice celebrated his third Premier League Player of the Year award by praising Arsenal's focus amid their title charge, but his claim of 'playing well' has raised eyebrows given their gritty, unexciting recent form. Critics like Paul Scholes question if they'd be the worst champions ever, comparing them to historical underperformers like Leicester '16 and Blackburn '95. Despite the style gripes, Arsenal's results keep them seven points clear.
Declan Rice's Award Night High Sparks Debate on Arsenal's Form
Picture this: Declan Rice lifts his third Premier League Player of the Year award at the London Football Awards. Buzzing from the honour, he chats about Arsenal's knack for tuning out the haters and staying laser-focused in the title race. But then he drops a bombshell: "We're playing well."
Hold on, mate. Is he living in the same postcode as the rest of us? Sure, the Gunners are seven points clear at the summit after grinding past Chelsea and Brighton, but let's not kid ourselves about the style.
Blocking the Noise: Arsenal's Calm Bubble
Rice nailed it on the mindset. After that nervy 2-2 at Wolves – which had title hopes wobbling – they've bounced back with results. "There's a real calmness around the place," he says, crediting Mikel Arteta for keeping things steady, even when Brighton's gaffer Fabian Hurzeler accused them of anti-football antics.
Arteta's crew has transformed a squad once known for crumbling into title contenders with proper mental steel. Lesser teams would've folded. Fans like Laura Woods are fuming at pundits like Alan Pardew suggesting an asterisk for any win, but deep down, who wouldn't prefer dazzling footy over set-piece scraps and time-wasting?
Still, results are results. Arsenal are favourites now, but Rice's rosy view ignores the dodgy open-play displays. Relying on defenders, David Raya's saves, and a slice of luck? That's not sustainable with nine league games left, plus Champions League and FA Cup dreams.
'Playing Well'? Time to Let in Some Fresh Air
Here's the delusion: claiming they're playing well lately. North London derby win over Tottenham? Class, but that's just three points in a long slog. Pundits and fans aren't wrong to question the entertainment value – even if Gooners swear they don't care how the silverware arrives.
Paul Scholes, winner of 11 titles with Man United, went nuclear in January: "If Arsenal win, this could be the worst team ever." Ouch. He pointed out their front four wouldn't crack a team-of-the-season XI, with only Bukayo Saka maybe sneaking in – and even he's not firing on all cylinders goal-wise.
Arsenal supporters reckon they've got the best squad ever. Pull the other one. But Scholes has a point: history's got some ropey champions too.
History's Dodgiest Title Winners: Arsenal in Good Company?
If the Gunners lift the trophy playing like this, they'd join an exclusive club of underwhelming champs. Take Leicester City in 2015-16 – miracle stuff, sure, but low on squad quality beyond N'Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez. They dodged the drop the year before and haven't sniffed Europe since, now flirting with League One.
Blackburn Rovers ('94-95) pipped Man United thanks to Alan Shearer's 34 goals and Chris Sutton, but shipped seven defeats – a record for champs. They're not even Prem now.
Others? Liverpool's 2019-20 side were pragmatic under Jurgen Klopp, not always poetry. Chelsea's 2004-05 Jose Mourinho vintage won ugly at times. Even Man City's early Pep Guardiola teams had off days. Point is, titles matter more than style points – but fooling yourself you're bossing it? That's asking for a stumble.
Arteta might need to crack open that bunker door. A bit of outside noise could sharpen them up. Because right now, it's grit over glamour holding Arsenal top. Will it be enough? Pub debate incoming.