While most Arsenal players were glued to screens at London Colney, tracking the final moments of the title race, Declan Rice adopted an entirely different strategy. The midfielder disclosed that the tension became so overwhelming during Manchester City’s decisive match against Bournemouth that he chose to walk the training pitches to maintain his composure.

“I took the security guard, Pete, and for the first 40 minutes, we walked every pitch possible. We talked about anything and everything,” Rice recounted. “Then we heard the roar, so we came back for the first goal. I thought, ‘Here we go again.’ On the way, I promised myself I’d tell everyone to stay put. We came back with five minutes left; it was over, but I still couldn’t watch.”

His teammate Bukayo Saka found the scene