Declan Rice has revealed the turning point in Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning campaign came in a meeting that followed a disastrous result against Wolves.
The Gunners looked to have opened the door to Manchester City back in Februrary when they let a two-goal lead slip against the division’s bottom club and were held to a 2-2 draw following an injury time equaliser.
After lifting the trophy at Selhurst Park on Sunday, Rice spoke eloquently about the crisis talks that followed that capitulation at Molineux where the words of three players in particular resonated with the rest of the squad.
Captain Martin Odegaard was to the fore, but Rice also credited the wisdom of Christian Norgaard, who has played a major role behind the scenes this season, as well as Eberechi Eze.
The summer signing from Palace was hardly a fixture in the team at that point but Rice outlined how the calmness Eze portrayed had a major impact on the result that followed.
He said: ‘I know one player, Norgaard said some realy good words, but I was going to say Martin as well when he started it off but also Eze, he ended it with some really nice and strong messages.
‘He’s such a calm guy, you see how he is on the pitch that’s how he is off the pitch. He just calmed everyone and it was really nice.
‘That’s been another thing this season, there’s been a lot of people who have stepped up behind the scenes.
‘Nobody would think they’re leaders but they’ve really been talking within the group and they’ve pushed people in quiet one to ones. It’s been a real group effort this season.’
Following the setback at Wolves, Arsenal went on a run of four successive league wins against Tottenham, Chelsea, Brighton and Everton that proved decisive in the end, even if there were further stumbles before they eventually got over the finish line.
‘There were a couple of crucial meetings that took place as a group without any of the staff, just players,’ Rice added.
‘After Wolves was one of them, going into the Spurs game that was. That was the most crucial one because we said if we’re going to win let’s enjoy winning in a good way, let’s not just feel pressure all the time.
‘We got so far playing so well and we were in all competitions and everything felt so god but there was also a bit of a negative you could just sense it and we said let’s just relax a bit.
‘From that moment everyone calmed down and that was the turning point.’