Declan Rice and Josh Kroenke were both in the middle of the Arsenal Premier League title celebratory parade, as thousands of supporters flocked to celebrate their triumph
Declan Rice and co-chair Josh Kroenke did not let anything get in the way of Arsenal’s parade – even a burger which narrowly missed the Gunners’ midfielder’s head.
A whirlwind weekend has ended with Rice and his team-mates and staff celebrating their Premier League title triumph with an open top bus parade. They were initially hoping to be paying tribute to a historic double winning campaign, until Paris Saint-Germain overcame Mikel Arteta’s side on penalties in the Champions League final.
However, they were not going to let that ruin the celebrations crowning Arsenal’s first Premier League title triumph since 2004. Rice was celebrating so much, he did not even notice a burger missing his head by centimetres on its way to striking a reporter who was on the bus.
Rice and Kroenke were both seen on the open top bus, posing with a white t-shirt featuring the England international’s face and his now iconic quote: “It’s not done”, which he said after Manchester City overcame the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium in April.
After their photo was taken, Rice turned to speak to the reporter. The interviewer then shouted: “You said it weren’t done – it’s now done!”
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Rice quickly replied: “They pointed and they laughed. They pointed and they laughed. They’re not laughing now.”
The reporter started asking questions only to be rudely interrupted by an unusual fan missile being hurled onto the bus. They said: “It must be incredible you’ve come here… oh I’ve just been hit by a burger.”
It appeared Rice did not notice the snack that was hurled past his head, as he did not reference it in his next quip. He replied: “I’m honestly speechless, I’ve lost my voice.”
He also added: “I love this team, I love this manager. To see the joy we can give people, it’s crazy. But next year we are coming back for more. So lock in, or get locked out. This team aren’t settling for one league title.”
It was a perfect line from Rice, who has been a titanic influence for the Gunners. After Martin Odegaard was substituted in the final, the ex-West Ham United skipper wore the armband for the rest of the match.
He was also one of the players to speak to the press,, despite the heartbreak they endured. It was there he publicly paid tribute to Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes, who missed the crucial penalties which handed PSG their second consecutive Champions League crown.
Rice said: “It is not nice. But we love them, we are with them and that happens in football. They are not going to be the last players to miss penalties in finals.
“Everyone has missed a penalty and without those two this season we wouldn’t have won the Premier League, that is for sure. I’ve ran out of words for Gabriel, as a person, as a player. Eze as well. The crucial goals he has come up with this year. It is cruel, but it’s football.”
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