Arsenal: Outrage at 'idiots' over 'absolutely outrageous' Declan Rice issue
Yesterday at 04:00 PM
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was the victim of "idiots" after what happened at the Emirates, according to an outraged Tim Sherwood.
The Gunners secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb on 22 January, moving into third place in the Champions League standings.
Rice opened the scoring within two minutes, converting after Gabriel Martinelli's cross was cushioned into his path by Kai Havertz.
Havertz then doubled the lead with a powerful header, before captain Martin Odegaard rounded off the victory with a third goal.
However, the game repeatedly took a dangerous turn when Rice became the target of objects thrown by the Dinamo Zagreb crowd whenever he approached to take a corner.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett criticised the officiating, stating that the referee should have halted play to address the situation, but no action was taken.
Sherwood also condemned the incident, calling it "absolutely outrageous" during Sky Sports Soccer Special. He said (22 January, 8:26 pm): “It’s getting rained down, raining pints of beer on his head. He’s trying to whip it in as quickly as he possibly can.
“Doesn’t effect the quality of the cross though as Gabriel [Magalhaes], again, rises on a six-yard box.
“He’s keeping his concentration there Dec, it’s absolutely disgraceful. He’s just getting [pelted] with coins and pint glasses. He just whips that ball into the six-yard box, great delivery, and Gabriel hits it wide again.
“I’m not sure [what can be done], they can’t stop it, idiots.”
Arsenal managed to play through but not the first time with Dinamo Zagreb fans
Football Insider Verdict
Rice and his team managed to pull through despite the actions from the crowd and now sit on 16 points in the Champions League standings.
On the other hand, Dinamo Zagreb fans have faced disciplinary issues with UEFA before, and another punishment seems likely. Back in August 2023, their fans were banned from attending any away matches for the remainder of that season [via uefa.com].
For Arsenal, they'll be relieved that Rice emerged unscathed, especially with major players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus already sidelined due to injuries.
However, the game also included an incident involving Gabriel, who was on the receiving end of a "ridiculous" challenge from striker Sandro Kulenovic.
The Gunners will now shift their focus to their Premier League clash against Wolves on 25 January.
In other news, Nottingham Forest may be about to hijack a move for one of Arsenal's transfer targets this January.
For more news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.
The post Arsenal: Outrage at 'idiots' over 'absolutely outrageous' Declan Rice issue appeared first on Football Insider.
