Ian Wright could not stop laughing after seeing Tottenham Hotspur’s James Maddison admit that he ‘hates’ Declan Rice playing for Arsenal before he scored at Luton Town.
The Gunners took a dramatic 4-3 win at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday with Rice bagging the winning goal in the 97th minute. He intelligently got in front of Gabriel Osho to head captain Martin Odegaard’s stoppage-time cross. It also took Arsenal five points clear atop the table.
Arsenal had led 1-0 and 2-1 before Luton stunned the Emirates Stadium squad to lead 3-2 in Bedfordshire. Osho had offered the Hatters’ initial equaliser before Elijah Adebayo and Ross Barkley punished the calamitous David Raya. The Spaniard created no confidence in the net.
Ian Wright laughs at James Maddison after Declan Rice scored for Arsenal
Rice rose and proved once more that he is worth every penny of the club-record fee Arsenal paid West Ham United for his transfer this summer, though. Kai Havertz had also continued his rich vein of form to get the game level at 3-3. But the night seemed set to end as a draw.
Seeing Rice snatch victory from the jaws of a stalemate sent Wright into delirium celebrating Arsenal’s win at Luton. The Gunners hero could also not contain his laughter at Maddison’s expense having seen the Tottenham star admit that he ‘hates’ Rice being an Arsenal player.
“Yes!” Wright euphorically yelled on Optus Sport. “Woo! Look, I was just seeing this, look at what I was just looking at. James Maddison, look, ‘I hate that he plays for Arsenal’, ha ha ha. And then Declan Rice scored, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Woohoo, Arsenal! Arsenal! Arsenal!”
What has Tottenham ace James Maddison said about Declan Rice at Arsenal?
Arsenal signed Rice from West Ham in July for an initial £100m, rising to £105m, to add one of Europe’s best holding midfielders to Arteta’s side. He instantly settled in at the Emirates, as well. The 24-year-old has also now scored three goals in 22 appearances from 23 games.
Paul Merson has even said that Rice has been Arsenal’s best player this season ‘by a million miles’. And seeing his England teammate play so well with Arsenal brings Maddison pain as the Tottenham maestro – who left Leicester City this summer – loves everything Rice offers.
“He’s got everything,” Maddison told former Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster for Amazon Prime. “He’s technically really good. He is a joke when it comes to low-cut passes. I think he’s a top, top player. I hate that he plays for Arsenal.”
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