Martin Keown Makes Honest Declan Rice Verdict After Arsenal Victory

Martin Keown questions Declan Rice display after Arsenal beat Brighton 1-0, though the Gunners moved seven points clear in the title race.

Arsenal legend Martin Keown slammed Declan Rice following Arsenal’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, as the Gunners tightened their grip on the Premier League title race

Martin Keown’s “nervy” Declan Rice assessment came after Bukayo Saka’s ninth-minute strike secured a crucial three points at the Amex Stadium. The winger’s effort deflected off Carlos Baleba before squeezing past goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to give Mikel Arteta’s side an early lead.

Buy Arsenal's 2025–26 Home Kit through the ArsenalTalks Shop

Click this link to buy the new 2025–26 Arsenal home kit through our ArsenalTalks Shop.

The result pushed Arsenal seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, especially significant after Manchester City dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest earlier in the evening.

Yet the performance itself lacked fluency. Arsenal controlled just 42 percent possession and managed only two shots on target. Brighton dominated the ball for long spells and forced the visitors to defend deep for much of the contest.

Gabriel delivers dominant defensive display

Keown, working on TNT Sports punditry, singled out Gabriel Magalhães for outstanding praise following his commanding performance in central defence.

With William Saliba unavailable due to injury, Gabriel stepped up as Arsenal’s defensive leader and helped secure a vital clean sheet. The Brazilian centre-back produced several crucial interventions and organised the back line effectively throughout the match.

“Gabriel’s performance at the back was absolutely immense,” Keown said during the broadcast.

“It was tense but you’ve got to keep going.”

The defender’s commanding display earned him Player of the Match, underlining how crucial Arsenal’s defensive resilience has become during the run-in.

Keown also praised Mikel Arteta’s substitutions. Kai Havertz provided greater control in possession after the break, while Riccardo Calafiori added stability down the left side and helped Arsenal regain balance in the second half.

Despite the positive result, Keown admitted he felt Declan Rice looked unsettled during parts of the match.

“It was a bit nervy at times from Declan Rice,” the former Arsenal defender said, before quickly acknowledging the scale of the result.

“But boy, that is an unbelievable result for Arsenal.”

Rice has been one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers this season, anchoring the midfield with authority. However, the England international appeared less composed than usual against Brighton’s energetic press.

Even so, he still played his role in helping Arsenal close out the win during a tense final period.

Arsenal strengthen grip on title race

Keown urged caution when discussing Arsenal’s growing advantage in the Premier League table.

“It’s a massively significant night in the title race,” he said.

“But there’s hardly anything in it. Every game is really tough. It’s going to go right to the wire. Don’t get carried away.”

Arsenal’s victory also delivered their 14th clean sheet in 30 league matches, the club’s best defensive record at this stage of a campaign in two decades.

With just over two months remaining in the season, Arteta’s side continue to show the resilience often required to win major titles.

The performance at Brighton may not have been beautiful, but the result could prove priceless.

Want more Arsenal updates? Visit our homepage.