Declan Rice came under fire for his overzealous reaction to a match-saving tackle during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
The Gunners midfielder was in the thick of the action at Old Trafford on Sunday having netted his side’s equaliser 16 minutes from time.
And he was at it again when with six minutes remaining as Rice got Arsenal out of jail with a sliding challenge to dispossess United striker Rasmus Hojlund with the goal gaping.
The Denmark international had just David Raya to beat to score what would likely have been the winning goal.
Rice was in no mood to see Arsenal fall further behind leaders Liverpool and his challenge helped Mikel Arteta’s side hold on to a valuable point.
The England international subsequently threw a wild fist pump after clearing the danger but not everybody shared Rice’s passion, not least talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham and Danny Murphy who were left a little perplexed by his reaction.
The pair were covering the game live on air and it’s fair to say neither were impressed with Durham likening it to a mismatch between Tyson Fury and Jake Paul.
“When he celebrated the tackle on Rasmus Hojlund, now that’s like Tyson Fury celebrating a win over Jake Paul,” Durham said.
“I think Declan Rice needs to set his standards and his targets higher,” he added. “I love him, but you’re tackling one of the worst strikers Man United have ever had, and then you’re getting up and celebrating.
“Don’t celebrate a tackle you could only make because your opponent’s touch was heavier than Alan Brazil’s bar tab at Cheltenham this week. It was embarrassing.”
Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Murphy agreed with his broadcast colleague adding: “I don’t like seeing tackles celebrated like it’s a goal when you’re doing your job.
“And you’re right, it was a heavy touch. I mean, it was a poor touch and he (Hojlund) deliberated and gave him (Rice) the chance to get back.
“But that’s kind of his job as a defensive midfielder to get back and intercept. Declan’s not normally like that, to be fair, I will say that about it.
“He gets on with the job in a humble way, but he and many others at the moment, and Arsenal probably do it as much as any team, but this thing about celebrating blocks and giving a corner away because you’ve slid in and won it back for your team.
“I mean, yes, celebrate a goal. It’s the most euphoric thing you can do in football.
“Enjoy yourself, but celebrating fist pumping and giving it out to the crowd when you make a tackle?”
Rice appeared unfettered by any noise around his reaction and instead doubled down when asked his favourite moment of the game.
“Probably the tackle, just because of the state of the game,” he said despite his fine effort to draw the Gunners level. “It defines the small margins in football for me because it could have been a penalty and probably a red card for me if I didn’t react as quickly as I did.
“I made the tackle, and we go to the other end and nearly score. These are the margins in football, but for me, those tackles are equally as important as scoring goals. That was a big one today so I liked that.’
Asked what was going on in his head as he set himself up for Arsenal’s leveller, Rice said; “Just to hit it, be positive.
“Jurrien Timber rolled me a nice ball back. The space was on the other side of the goal where I finished it, so it was just about a nice clean connection, a nice sweep and just put my foot through the back of the ball, so I was happy with that goal. It’s always special to score for this club, it’s not a bad feeling.”
