London, September 30, 2025 – Declan Rice Reveals Surprise Praise From Premier League Icons
Arsenal’s midfield powerhouse Declan Rice has lifted the lid on a remarkable show of respect that crossed club divides. Speaking on Amazon Prime’s No Compliance podcast, the 26-year-old revealed that after his stunning two-goal display in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City, two legends of the modern era—one from Liverpool, one from Chelsea—slid into his direct messages with heartfelt praise.
Rice’s £105 million move from West Ham in 2023 is now seen as a masterstroke rather than a gamble, and his performance at the Etihad last Saturday confirmed it: a 35-yard rocket to open the scoring and a stoppage-time piledriver to seal the win after Erling Haaland had equalized. It was Arsenal’s first triumph at City since 2015, one that moved them to within a point of league leaders Liverpool.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Rice admitted with a grin. “My phone went crazy—friends, family, old Chelsea academy lads. But what really floored me were two messages from players I grew up idolizing. One, a Liverpool legend, told me it was a proper Henderson-type performance. The other, a Chelsea great, said I’d run the midfield like Kanté. To hear that from them? Surreal.”
Though Rice refused to name names, speculation has centered on Jordan Henderson, now captaining Ajax after spells at Liverpool and in Saudi Arabia, and N’Golo Kanté, whose tireless brilliance once defined Chelsea’s midfield. Henderson publicly lauded Rice’s energy on X, while Kanté quietly reposted his goal clip with a heart emoji—fueling fan theories. The revelation quickly trended as #RiceDMs, drawing millions of views and comments across social media.
Arsenal’s Crown Jewel
Rice’s Etihad heroics capped a blistering September for Arsenal, with back-to-back derby wins over Tottenham and City showcasing his influence. Beyond his two goals, Rice covered more ground than anyone on the pitch (14.2 km), broke up play relentlessly, and outshone Rodri at his own game. Mikel Arteta hailed him as “a game-changer,” while Pep Guardiola admitted: “That second goal? Unfair—he’s too good.”
The episode also touched on Rice’s personal journey: rejected by Chelsea as a teenager, rising to West Ham captain, and now leading Arsenal’s title charge. “Chelsea let me go, Liverpool were rivals I dreamed of beating,” he reflected. “Getting respect from both camps? That’s closure.”
Fan and Pundit Reaction
Online, Arsenal supporters celebrated Rice as “the bridge between eras,” while Liverpool and Chelsea fans acknowledged the mutual admiration. Pundits echoed the sentiment—Alan Shearer called him “generational,” and even Liverpool boss Arne Slot nodded: “We all respect what Declan’s doing.”
Bigger Picture
With Arsenal just one point off top spot, Rice’s form is central to their title bid. Next comes Southampton away before a November showdown at Anfield. Meanwhile, his candid, grounded demeanor—balancing family life, charity work, and England ambitions—continues to endear him beyond the pitch.
From teenage rejection to midfield dominance, Rice’s story is already remarkable. But those private DMs, from legends he once idolized, underline just how far he’s come. In the fraternity of football, sometimes the truest recognition arrives not in headlines, but in a quiet message of respect.
