Declan Rice Reveals Private Messages From Premier League Legends After Arsenal’s Win Over Man City
London, September 30, 2025 – Arsenal star Declan Rice has revealed the incredible messages he received from two Premier League icons after his match-winning performance in the Gunners’ dramatic 2-1 victory over Manchester City.
The 26-year-old midfielder, speaking on Amazon Prime’s No Compliance podcast, said that following his two-goal heroics at the Etihad, his phone was flooded with congratulations — but what shocked him most were the direct messages from two players he grew up idolizing.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Rice admitted. “Family, friends, even old Chelsea academy lads messaged me. But then I saw two DMs from legends — one from Liverpool, one from Chelsea. One said it was a proper Henderson-type performance, the other said I ran the midfield like Kanté. To hear that from them? Surreal.”
Arsenal’s £105m Star Delivers at the Etihad
Rice’s performance against City is already being hailed as one of his best since joining Arsenal for £105 million from West Ham in 2023. He opened the scoring with a thunderous 35-yard strike and sealed the win in stoppage time after Erling Haaland’s equalizer, giving Arsenal their first victory at the Etihad since 2015.
The result closed the gap on league leaders Liverpool to just one point, underlining Rice’s growing importance in Mikel Arteta’s title challenge.
Who Were the Legends?
Although Rice did not name names, speculation has focused on Jordan Henderson, now at Ajax, and N’Golo Kanté, whose tireless brilliance defined Chelsea’s midfield. Henderson has already praised Rice on social media, while Kanté quietly reposted his goal clip with a heart emoji — fueling fan theories.
The story went viral with the hashtag #RiceDMs, trending across platforms and racking up millions of views.
Rice’s Journey: From Rejection to Respect
Beyond his on-pitch brilliance, Rice reflected on his journey from being released by Chelsea as a teenager to captaining West Ham and now becoming Arsenal’s midfield general.
“Chelsea let me go, Liverpool were rivals I dreamed of beating,” he said. “To get respect from both camps now — that’s closure.”
Reaction From Fans and Pundits
Fans from across the league praised Rice’s honesty and dominance. Arsenal supporters hailed him as “the heartbeat of the team,” while even rival fans acknowledged his rise.
Pundits joined in too — Alan Shearer called Rice “generational,” while Pep Guardiola admitted after the match: “That second goal? Unfair — he’s too good.”
What’s Next for Arsenal?
With Arsenal sitting just behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race, Rice’s form will be crucial in the weeks ahead. The Gunners travel to face Southampton before a huge November clash at Anfield that could shape the season.
From teenage rejection to becoming Arsenal’s crown jewel, Declan Rice’s story is one of resilience, dominance, and recognition. And now, with praise arriving privately from two Premier League greats, his rise feels complete — proof that even legends can’t help but respect the new king of midfield.