Declan Rice dedicates goal to late aunt in Arsenal’s victory
Declan Rice revealed the heartfelt meaning behind his celebration during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory at Burnley on Saturday, dedicating his goal to his beloved aunt Bev who died in October, reports BritPanorama.
The England midfielder fell to his knees and pointed towards the sky after scoring Arsenal’s second goal with a powerful header in the 35th minute. His aunt, who passed away before Arsenal’s match against Fulham on October 18, had been a devoted supporter throughout his career.
She regularly travelled across the country alongside Rice’s mother to watch him play, making her presence a constant source of support at his matches. Speaking after the match at Turf Moor, Rice opened up about the emotional tribute. “My auntie passed away before the Fulham game. I loved her to death,” he told Premier League Productions.
Rice described his celebration as a touching moment that revealed the personal loss behind what appeared to be a routine goal celebration. “She travelled everywhere to watch me with my mum. I know she’s watching down so that was for her today,” he added.
The goal itself came from a swift Arsenal counter-attack that began with Gabriel winning possession from a Burnley long throw. Rice met Leandro Trossard’s delivery with a powerful header that doubled Arsenal’s advantage after Viktor Gyokeres had opened the scoring. “I was like a traditional number nine!” Rice reflected on his striker’s instinct during the move.
Arsenal’s triumph at Turf Moor extended their winning streak to nine matches across all competitions, with the team sitting eight points clear at the Premier League summit. Rice spoke about his sharp focus this season, stating, “I’m so focused on and off the pitch. Every weekend I know how important it is to win football matches.”
Manager Mikel Arteta praised Rice’s display, noting how the midfielder “stepped up” and “won I don’t know how many balls and tackles.” The Gunners now turn their attention to Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Slavia Prague, hoping to make it ten wins on the bounce.
In moments like these, the intersection of sport and personal life is starkly illuminated, reminding us all of the underlying stories that shape each player’s journey on the pitch.
