Bukayo Saka shares the one thing which Declan Rice keeps doing in the Arsenal dressing room
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were two Arsenal players who led the team to the title this season, and the latter spoke out about his teammate.
Rice was sublime against Sunderland at the weekend and played a key role in helping to bring Mikel Arteta’s side back into the game in the second half.
Since leaving West Ham United in 2023, the midfielder has become a hugely popular figure at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to his performances and personality.
The Arsenal duo are currently on international duty with England, and Saka explained how important Rice has been to the Gunners this season.
Bukayo Saka hails Declan Rice’s leadership at Arsenal
Bukayo Saka has praised Declan Rice’s leadership at Arsenal and explained how he truly motivates the team in the dressing room.
Rice is the perfect role model for many of Arsenal’s young players, and he has particularly taken the highly talented Max Dowman under his wing in north London.
The 26-year-old is no stranger to leadership, having led West Ham to a European trophy in 2023.
Rice, who has been compared to Bryan Robson, has really stepped up this season for the Gunners, and he is doing the same for the Three Lions as well.
Speaking about his team-mate, Saka told TalkSPORT: “Yeah, I think with Decs, he’s not only a great player, but he’s a great leader. Obviously he was captain at West Ham and even around Arsenal, you know, he’s a great leader.
“He’s a guy who takes a lot of responsibility in the dressing room and gets the boys going. So credit to him for that, and of course he’s doing it here now too. So it’s just an honor for him. He’s in really good shape, he’s having a really good time and he’s happy to be his teammate.”
Arsenal paid £100m for Rice to take him across London, and despite such a large investment it is quickly looking like it will pay off big in the end.
Speaking about exactly how Rice demonstrates his leadership, Saka revealed how he is a great communicator, but he also leads by how he acts on the field.
“Obviously the way he talks, communicates, he knows what to say at the right time. But I think that builds on his presence on the pitch, how he plays, he plays in every game, he’s always available. So yeah, I think it’s like it all speaks for itself, you know,” Saka added.
Bukayo Saka’s record with Declan Rice says it all
Saka has a superb record alongside Rice for England and Arsenal, with the duo having played 129 times as teammates.
| Applications | Victories | Prints | Losses | Participation in a common goal |
| 129 | 80 | 26 | 23 | 3 |
During this period of matches, the two men won 80 times, drew 26 times and lost 23 times.
Over the next year, Rice and Saka will hope to have achieved big things in the Premier League, with the Champions League and World Cup on the horizon.