Declan Rice admits 1 thing was ‘really tough’ as Arsenal lost 1-0 at FC Porto

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Declan Rice admits he found it ‘really tough’ playing with a yellow card after only 73 seconds as Arsenal lost at FC Porto in their first leg of the Champions League last 16.

Referee Serdar Gozubuyuk reached for the first caution of the encounter straight away after Rice fouled Galeno. The 25-year-old dived in on the Brazilian forward close to the right-hand side touchline. But the foul ensured the midfielder walked a tightrope for the rest of the tie.

It was only Rice’s fifth caution through 35 appearances since joining Arsenal from West Ham United in a club-record transfer in July. It was also his second yellow card in the Champions League, after earning a booking in the closing stages of the Gunners’ 2-0 win against Sevilla.

Declan Rice earned his fifth Arsenal yellow card after 73 seconds at Porto

Yet, despite stamping his mark on the match after just 73 seconds, Gozubuyuk did not show another yellow card until the official cautioned Francisco Conceicao in the 52nd minute. The referee also showed Jakub Kiwior (57’), Kai Havertz (60’) and Nico Gonzalez (62’) yellows.

Gozubuyuk only opted to caution two Porto players and three Arsenal aces despite deeming the two sides to commit 14 and 22 fouls respectively. The referee blew his whistle after Rice committed a foul twice, with Gozubuyuk believing Kiwior (5) made the most fouls all match.

Declan Rice found it ‘really tough’ walking a Champions League tightrope

Rice admits it was ‘really tough’ for the Arsenal ace to go 94 minutes, including all stoppage time, at Porto on a yellow card. But the 48-cap England anchor used his ‘savviness’ to make an impact at the Estadio do Dragao and avoid earning the first red card of his Arsenal career.

“It’s really tough,” Rice has admitted to the official Arsenal website. “When you look up at a clock and you see one minute 30 [and] you’ve been booked, for a player like me who makes tackles, gets involved in that type of the game.

“You have to use your head, use your experience and know that you can’t really be getting involved in too many other duels. But I did get involved in some other duels [and] won my tackles. Like I said, it’s just about having that savviness and playing with your brain.”

Just Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli (18) and Porto forward Evanilson (11) contested more ground duels than Rice (10) over the Champions League last 16 first leg, per SofaScore. Only Martinelli and left-back Wendell also won seven ground duels like Rice on Wednesday night.