"I don't like it" — The specific Declan Rice habit that has Paul Scholes worried for Arsenal's title hopes
Paul Scholes has questioned whether Declan Rice is “too emotional” in big moments as Arsenal chase the Premier League title.
The comments came despite Arsenal’s emphatic 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby.
Rice endured a mixed afternoon in midfield, playing his part in a dominant display but also losing possession in the build-up to Randal Kolo Muani’s equaliser.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes suggested that title-winning sides require greater composure from their senior figures.
“When you’re going for a league title, when you’ve got tough games, there has to be a calmness about you,” Scholes said. “When I look at Declan Rice, he almost looks too emotional.”
Scholes pointed to the moment shortly before Spurs’ goal, when Rice was visibly geeing up the crowd.
“He’s lively, he’s ‘Come on! Come on! Come on!’, and then he makes his mistake,” Scholes added. “I don’t like people being so emotional like that.”
The former Manchester United midfielder stressed that emotion has its place, particularly when celebrating goals, but insisted that game management demands control.
“Of course we want emotion, but it has to be in the right way,” he said. “Game-management in game situations, there needs to be a calmness.”
Rice immediately apologised to his team-mates after being dispossessed, and Arsenal responded strongly to regain control of the contest.
Eberechi Eze restored the lead before the interval, and Viktor Gyokeres added further gloss in the second half as Arsenal ran out comfortable winners.
Former United midfielder Nicky Butt echoed concerns about leadership within the Arsenal squad.
“What rang a little alarm bell for me is not one Arsenal player had a go at him for the mistake,” Butt said.
He referenced past leaders such as Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira, suggesting previous generations would have reacted more forcefully.
However, Butt was also quick to praise Rice’s overall quality.
“If there’s any player that I would take to Manchester United in the country, it would be Declan Rice right now,” he added.
The result ensured Arsenal maintained a five-point advantage at the top of the table.
The Gunners answered questions raised after their slip at Wolves, delivering authority and attacking quality against their fiercest rivals.
As the title race intensifies, Rice’s passion remains central to Arsenal’s identity.
Whether that emotion requires refinement, as Scholes suggests, will be judged by what happens in the decisive weeks ahead.
The post "I don't like it" — The specific Declan Rice habit that has Paul Scholes worried for Arsenal's title hopes first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.