Declan Rice spoke to TNT Sports after Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb this evening. Here’s what he had to say.
On scoring his first Champions League goal (but missing a chance for his second) …
I’m so annoyed, honestly, because I had the same position against Man Utd in the cup and I missed and then the same there. So, look, I’m getting in the right positions when I play. I scored a good goal in the first half but I’m annoyed I didn’t get a second, you know.
I’ve got to be a bit more clinical but it’s my first Champions League goal. It’s obviously taken me two seasons but I’m so happy and hopefully many more to come.
On Rice and Odegaard getting on the scoresheet …
Yeah, it’s so important. The manager has been on us really hard about the midfielders arriving in the box. We’ve got so many goals to come from there. It’s down to us, you know, to make up that extra five, ten yards and Martin obviously did there right at the end of the game. I did for the header.
So, we’ve got to keep arriving there but everyone’s contributing and doing some important work tonight. You know, it’s been a really positive Champions League campaign. So, we’ve got one more to go now and hopefully we can win that as well.
Is this a moment when Arsenal can kick on …?
Yeah, I hope so. What I learned from last year is that you need to be there or thereabouts when you come to this time of the season. And we are at the minute. We need to keep winning games.
I think the game on the weekend, we’re 2-0 up, and we draw two all. It’s a real kick in the teeth. I think we should be seeing that out.
But, it’s about tonight and the win. It’s really positive. Now we go into Wolves on Saturday. It’s been a tough month. But, we keep being positive and we go again.
Blessed to have this guy in red and white
I know Declan hasn’t (until now) been as sensational as he was last season (maybe a legacy of the Euros) but his attitude, work rate and ability are fantastic. So glad he’s a Gooner. I can picture him lifting a major trophy in the red of Arsenal – let’s hope sooner rather than later.
I think the dip in form was down to fatigue/wearout from the Euros at first, and then the broken toe. Pretty sure going forward if he stays fit he’ll get even better than he was last season, he’s still not quite at his prime.
I like the fact that his focus is being frustrated on the one he missed and what he could have done better in a 3-0 win, rather than his brilliantly taken goal. Shows his attitude