Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has launched a pointed critique of Arsenal star Declan Rice, labeling the England international as "too emotional" during matches. Scholes made these remarks following Arsenal's emphatic 4-1 victory over bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby.
Scholes Questions Rice's Composure in Title Race
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes expressed concerns about Rice's emotional approach to games, particularly as Arsenal chase their first Premier League title in over two decades. "When I look at Declan Rice, he almost looks too emotional," Scholes stated. "He's lively, he's 'Come on! Come on! Come on!', and then he makes his mistake."
The Manchester United legend emphasized that championship-winning teams require a different temperament during critical moments. "When you're going for a league title, when you've got tough games, there has to be a calmness about you," Scholes explained. "I think potentially [he's a captain]. It's just when I look at him now, he's so emotional."
Arsenal's Derby Triumph Overshadowed by Criticism
Arsenal's comprehensive victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres each score twice, propelling the Gunners to a five-point lead over second-placed Manchester City. However, the match wasn't without its nervy moments for Mikel Arteta's side.
Rice found himself at the center of controversy when his mistake led to Tottenham's equalizer. The midfielder lost possession dangerously on the edge of Arsenal's penalty area, allowing Randal Kolo Muani to cancel out Eze's opening goal just before halftime. Rice immediately apologized to his teammates for the lapse in concentration.
Despite this error, Arsenal dominated the second half with Eze and Gyokeres combining to torment Igor Tudor's Tottenham side, securing three crucial points in the title race.
Butt Echoes Concerns About Leadership Void
Scholes' podcast co-host Nicky Butt, another former Manchester United and England midfielder, echoed concerns about Arsenal's leadership structure. Butt argued that the current Arsenal squad lacks the "old-school leaders" like Roy Keane or Martin Keown who could drive the team toward championship success.
"I would put a Roy Keane in there because I think they need a leader," Butt asserted. "They need some leaders on that pitch saying, 'We can do this! We can get [over the line]'. If Martin Keown was in that team, I would be a lot more confident of them going on and winning the league because he's a leader."
Butt expressed particular concern that no Arsenal player confronted Rice immediately after his mistake that led to Tottenham's goal. "What rang a little alarm bell for me is not one Arsenal player had a go at him for the mistake," Butt revealed. "If you rewind to Martin Keown's days, Tony Adams' days, Patrick Vieira's days, Thierry Henry's days, all these players, they would have [torn into Rice]."
Scholes Defends Position on Emotional Balance
Scholes clarified that his criticism wasn't about eliminating emotion from football entirely, but rather about channeling it appropriately. "People will call me a miserable bastard and say that you don't want to take emotion out of the game," Scholes acknowledged. "And of course we don't, we want emotion but it has to be in the right way."
The eleven-time Premier League winner distinguished between different types of emotional expression. "Scoring goals and celebrating, that's great," Scholes noted. "But game-management in game situations, there needs to be a calmness."
Interestingly, despite his criticism of Rice's emotional approach, Butt named the Arsenal midfielder as the one player in English football he would most like to see at Manchester United. "If there's any player that I would take to Manchester United in the country, it would be Declan Rice right now," Butt confessed.
Title Race Implications and Upcoming Fixtures
Arsenal's derby victory extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table, with Manchester City keeping pace through a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United. The Gunners will look to maintain their momentum when they host Chelsea this weekend, while Tottenham must regroup after their comprehensive defeat.
Scholes and Butt's comments highlight the ongoing debate about leadership styles in modern football, with traditional vocal leaders like Roy Keane contrasting with more emotionally expressive contemporary players like Rice. As Arsenal continue their pursuit of Premier League glory, the balance between passion and composure will remain under intense scrutiny.
