Declan Rice’s performance against Manchester City has come under scrutiny following Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat, with Troy Deeney openly criticising several players and claiming the midfielder “didn’t turn up” in a crucial title race clash.
Speaking on CBS Sports, the former Premier League forward suggested Arsenal’s loss at the Etihad Stadium was as much about their own shortcomings as it was about City’s quality. The result has significantly shifted momentum in the title race, with City now in a position to overtake the Gunners.
Declan Rice criticised after Arsenal loss vs Man City
Manchester City’s victory, secured through goals from Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland, came at a pivotal stage of the season. Arsenal briefly responded through Kai Havertz, but ultimately failed to match City’s intensity across key moments.
Deeney singled out multiple Arsenal players for their performance levels, arguing that too many failed to meet expectations on the day.
“We talk about how great Manchester City are, but you have to say Noni Madueke didn’t turn up, Martin Zubimendi didn’t turn up, Martin Odegaard didn’t turn up, Cristhian Mosquera didn’t turn up, Piero Hincapie didn’t turn up.” — Troy Deeney, via CBS Sports
Among those mentioned was Declan Rice, despite his established importance within Mikel Arteta’s system.
“And arguably — he’s a friend of mine — Declan Rice didn’t turn up. When Arsenal have this many players not turning up and putting in a level of performance you would expect, you have to question it.” — Troy Deeney, via CBS Sports
Arsenal performance questioned in title race context
The defeat marked a difficult moment for Arsenal, who had been in a strong position just weeks earlier. A run of inconsistent results has now left them vulnerable, with Manchester City capable of overtaking them with a win in their next fixture.
From the matches we’ve followed involving Arsenal in recent weeks, performance levels have fluctuated at a critical stage of the campaign. Against City, those inconsistencies were exposed, particularly in midfield where control and composure are usually strengths. However, it remains too early to draw firm conclusions about their overall level across the season.
Deeney also suggested the reaction surrounding the club could intensify if results do not improve.
“This has created a wonderful storyline but also… the Arsenal meltdown will be epic. The online meltdown will be epic.” — Troy Deeney, via CBS Sports
Key Insights
- Declan Rice was criticised despite being a key Arsenal figure
- Multiple players were singled out for underperformance
- Manchester City’s win has shifted title race momentum
- Arsenal risk losing top spot depending on upcoming results
- Performance consistency is now a major concern
What’s Next
Arsenal return to action against Newcastle United on Saturday, 25 April 2026, in a fixture that could be crucial for their title hopes. By that stage, they may already have dropped to second place if Manchester City win their game in hand.
Maintaining focus and delivering a response will be essential, particularly with only a handful of matches remaining in the season. Any further slip could prove decisive in the title race.
0 Comments
First read message
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *