Man United Legend Slams Declan Rice's Key Weakness: "I Don't Like All That"

Former Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has questioned Declan Rice's emotionally charged style of play, suggesting it reflects broader concerns about Arsenal's mental fragility in title races.

Despite being among the league's standout performers this campaign, Rice made a rare mistake during the opening period of last Sunday's north London clash. Following Eberechi Eze's opening strike, the England star gathered his squad in a team huddle, calling for "composure" and control—qualities he ironically lacked when gifting Randal Kolo Muani the leveling goal just 24 seconds into the second half.

Known for his reserved demeanor both during and after matches, Scholes believes effective leaders must maintain emotional control in crucial moments. "When Roy [Keane] was rallying the squad and providing strong leadership, there was a distinct sense of tranquility," the ex-United legend shared on his podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Football. "Watching Declan Rice, he appears overly passionate.

"He's animated, constantly shouting 'Come on! Come on! Come on!' Then he commits his error. When you're pursuing a championship, facing challenging fixtures, you need serenity. I believe he has potential [as a captain]. It's just that currently, he seems too emotionally charged."

"I'm not fond of that behavior [Rice energizing the supporters moments before Kolo Muani's strike]. I dislike seeing players so emotionally volatile. Some might label me a grumpy old man and argue that emotion shouldn't be removed from football.

"Naturally we don't want that—we desire passion, but it must be channeled appropriately. Finding the net and celebrating is wonderful. However, during match management and critical situations, composure is essential."

Concerns Over Rice Part of Wider Arsenal Issues

Rice's Issues Reflect Broader Arsenal Challenges

Rice isn't the sole Arsenal player criticized for displaying excessive emotion. This characteristic has plagued Mikel Arteta's team throughout their unsuccessful title campaigns, with pundits frequently condemning the Gunners for "excessive celebrations" of victories well before the season's climactic stages.

The opposite scenario also holds true. Arteta disclosed that after surrendering two points against Wolverhampton Wanderers recently, it seemed "like doomsday." The entire roster was "experiencing anger, disappointment, and embarrassment at times."

The principle of maintaining equilibrium—avoiding excessive highs after victories or devastating lows following draws or losses—seems challenging for Arteta's team to master. Throughout the last three campaigns, resulting in three second-place finishes, Arsenal have clearly possessed the technical abilities to secure at least one Premier League championship, yet have consistently fallen short.

Rodri attributed it to something less tangible. "I believe the distinction was up here," the Manchester City midfielder smiled after claiming the 2023–24 championship while tapping his head. "I think it boils down to psychological strength."

Rice Accepts Criticism With a Smile

Rice Embraces Criticism Gracefully

Rice didn't linger on his mistake for extended periods. The 27-year-old responded with laughter and promptly offered apologies to his colleagues before producing a characteristically steady display. Shortly after the blunder, social platforms were flooded with mocking content targeting Rice, much of it drawing parallels to Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard who famously assured his teammates they wouldn't allow the 2013–14 championship to escape before literally slipping in a crucial loss to Chelsea that campaign.

Enjoying Arsenal's commanding 4–1 triumph, Rice proceeded to endorse several of these humorous posts following the match's conclusion.

Arteta was amazed by his midfielder's on-field reaction. "We discussed at the interval that we continue playing, and spoke about mentality. What Declan accomplished today..." the Arsenal manager pondered, his voice fading in wonder. "He committed an error, yet his subsequent performance demonstrated true character, personality, and bravery to rise up during a challenging period."