Declan Rice tried to take the positives from a disappointing night in Lens, claiming Arsenal can learn from this evening’s 2-1 defeat.
Here’s what the midfielder had to say when he faced questions from TNT Sport...
On a difficult night…
You could say that, obviously with the result it doesn’t look good. I felt like we created enough to win the game for sure. We missed some big chances, especially after going one goal up. It’s a great finish from the guy who scored the first goal to be fair and obviously the one in the second half we created from our own problems.
On having control of the game…
I think we totally dominated and controlled the match. They’re not an easy opponent, Lens. They go man for man all over the pitch and they’re constantly pressing you, trying to win the ball back high. We had to be on it in terms of our rotations and we got out really well. It was just that final bit that was lacking tonight. They defended very well, credit to them. Some of the centre-backs had some amazing performances. But look, I think it’s good for us. We’ve lost but we can learn a lot from tonight and we can go again.
On whether it felt like a game too far for the Gunners after a busy run…
No, of course not. Because we’re what, 10 games into the season maybe, or maybe a bit less in terms of all competitions. What, there’s another 50 to go? We’re just warming up. We’re just getting into our rhythm. Up until this moment, we’d obviously been unbeaten all season, so to lose that tonight was disappointing. But full focus now goes back to the league and it’s a massive game on Sunday.
Great guy. Intelligent words.
I want Ramsdale back.
An embarrassment for Arsenal after spending so much in the summer. We were owned by a better and more organized team.
not better…maybe organized
Two things can be true:
1. We were the slightly better side today and were unlucky to get out of there without any points
2. We weren’t convincing, fluent or creative, just like most of this season. If we’re only the slightly better side v. Lens then we’re doing something wrong and leaving too much to chance.
Attack was tame after Saka came off, but I think the team struggled to play through Lens’ very intense press, especially in the second half. and were just too content playing safe passes. I don’t think we were the slightly better side today as the possession we had was very sterile, Lens although a bit more sloppy than us was more dangerous in possession.
Vieira as the Saka replacement was puzzling. I thought we would see Jesus rotate out there and Havertz go up top.
I’d have kept Jesus where he was and moved Havertz to the right.
He looked bloody dangerous on the right for Chelshit last season, probably the only really worrying threat they had.
I suspect that Mikel is desperately trying to remould Havertz as Xhaka MkII and doesn’t want to screw himself over by having Havertz repeatedly waltz through the Lens defence from the right while he’s watching.
As far as I can tell, the atmosphere was like playing at Dortmund or Anfield, only louder. Maybe not physically intimidating like Istanbul or Belgrade, but very intense nonetheless. That still counts for something. I was surprised at their quality, the general intelligence of their play, and thought they deserved at least a point. Also, a side note: the officiating was sensible and unobtrusive. A welcome change from English games.
I wouldn’t say “totally” dominated. Lens had a good spell with the ball and played around us but we’rent threatening. It’s actually a little weird how stubborn we are about control, it’s almost as if that’s the focus on every match and no actually winning the match.
I love everything Rice has done since joining the club and these post match interviews are a big part of that. He’s such a great character and I’ve got a sneaky feeling he’s got another knife in his back pocket for those scumbags in baby blue.
Mr Rice you can hold your head high after that match, unlike some players.
Leader
RCL goalkeeper stopped a couple of goals which he knew nothing about especially from Tomi from a corner and from that action I think RCL next decent attack they scored , such fine margins .