Declan Rice reveals the players’ disappointment at Arsenal for letting the fans down.

After a bitter defeat in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice made a plea for calm and resilience. Frustration is palpable among the players, who feel they have let their loyal fans down, especially considering the club has not won a trophy since 2020.

“It’s very, very disappointing,” Rice stated, reflecting on the match. “It’s a final that we didn’t want to lose, but, at the end of the day, we created the opportunities for them ourselves. We have to look at ourselves; it could have been a different game if we had scored in the first half. There were many positives in the first half.” Rice’s determination is evident as he insists the team must keep their heads up. “We keep fighting. There are many positive aspects to look at with optimism for the end of the season.”

The player did not hide the empathy he feels for Arsenal fans, stating that “I know how much this meant to the Arsenal supporters today, you could feel it. But we still have three big competitions ahead of us. We need to keep a positive attitude, stay united, and keep fighting because there is a lot at stake.” He reminds that the team is at the top of the Premier League and is still in the FA Cup and Champions League competitions, presenting a promising future despite the defeat.

Rice expressed pride in being an Arsenal player, especially when seeing the passion of the fans before the game. “I saw the supporters today, how much this meant to them before the game, singing for us – I felt proud to be an Arsenal player. You could see how much it meant for them to be in the stands, supporting us in large numbers. Obviously, we are devastated for not meeting their expectations, as they deserve something. They have been with us at home and away all season. They never give up, they are always by our side.”

Rice’s message of hope resonates amid the frustration. “As I said, it is disappointing not to have won this trophy. But I hope we can still shine in some competitions ahead of us.” Arsenal, under the leadership of Rice and his teammates, is determined to turn the situation around and regain the trust of the fans in the upcoming challenges.