Declan: 'Rice wants to win that much that it's not helping him' — Rooney and Scholes on declan

Declan Rice’s temperament and leadership were the focus of debate after Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Tottenham, with both Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes offering sharp views on the midfielder’s conduct. The conversation ranged from a first-half error that allowed Spurs to equalise to praise for Rice’s rapid response and broader questions about calm leadership on the pitch.

Rooney on desire and composure

Wayne Rooney said Rice is hindered by how much he wants to win, speaking after Arsenal beat Tottenham 4-1 on Sunday. Rooney noted Rice made an error for Spurs’ equalising goal in the first half and said the midfielder needs to compose himself. He pointed out that Rice had often wriggled out of tight situations or passed through them, and that the way Rice gathered the team after the goal highlighted the mistake more.

Rooney added that, watching Rice over the past four weeks, the midfielder is getting more animated. "He wants to win that much that sometimes it's not helping him, " Rooney said, urging Rice to "take a deep breath and compose yourself" and describing that advice as a compliment because Rice's hunger to win is evident and, after a bad result, the frustration shows.

Equaliser at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The sequence at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium began with Eberechi Eze opening the scoring for Arsenal. Randal Kolo Muani immediately cancelled that out late in the first half, after Rice was robbed of possession while trying to carry the ball away to safety on the edge of Arsenal's penalty area. The lapse allowed Spurs to draw level moments after Rice had gestured for his team-mates to remain composed following Eze's opener.

Second-half response and key goals

After the nervy period, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres combined in a dominant second-half display, each scoring twice as Arsenal returned to control and delivered a comprehensive 4-1 victory. The result left Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City at the end of the weekend, with Manchester City keeping pressure on by beating Newcastle 2-1 24 hours earlier. Eze has now scored five of his six Premier League goals against Spurs.

Scholes: 'Too emotional' and the need for calm

Paul Scholes said Rice has a tendency to be "too emotional" in games and suggested Arsenal may need more calmness from senior players if they are to go on and win the Premier League title. Discussing the match on a podcast, Scholes said that when he looks at Rice, "he almost looks too emotional. He's lively, he's, 'Come on! Come on! Come on!', and then he makes his mistake. "

Butt, Keane and Keown on leadership

Nicky Butt argued there remains a lack of old-school "leaders" in the current Arsenal squad, naming Roy Keane and Martin Keown as examples of the kind of presence he believes can drive a team over the line. Butt said: "I would put a Roy Keane in there because I think they need a leader. They need some leaders on that pitch saying, 'We can do this! We can get [over the line]'. " He added that if Martin Keown was in the team he would be more confident of them winning the league.

Butt also said he is "pretty sure Declan Rice is a big leader, I’m pretty sure William Saliba is a leader but they just need someone to grab them by the short and curlies and go, 'Lads, we can do this. We’re a good team!'"

Leadership shown in response

Despite the criticism, Rice’s immediate actions after his error were noted positively in another commentary strand. Rice, 27, raised his hand in an apologetic gesture when Muani scored, smiled to acknowledge the mistake, and encouraged his team-mates to return to the halfway line, regroup and continue. That behaviour was contrasted with an infamous past episode in which William Gallas staged a one-man sit-down protest after a dramatic collapse; commentators recalled that episode, and also referenced the injuries and incidents from that season — Eduardo's broken leg and Gael Clichy conceding a stoppage-time penalty — to underline how different responses to adversity can be.

Rice’s instant recovery and efforts to steady colleagues were presented as evidence of leadership by example, even as pundits argued over whether his visible emotion sometimes undermines his game. Both the critique and the praise point to a central question for Arsenal as they push toward the season’s climax: can hunger and animation be balanced with calm, old-school leadership on the pitch?

Closing the debate, Rooney urged composure and breath control as practical advice, Scholes warned about being "too emotional, " Butt stressed the need for leaders like Roy Keane or Martin Keown, and observers highlighted Rice’s quick apology and regrouping as instances of resilience from the 27-year-old midfielder.