Paul Scholes Accuses Arsenal Star of Being ‘Too Emotional’ After Derby Win Over Tottenham

Former Manchester United legend Paul Scholes criticises Declan Rice on-pitch passion despite Arsenal 4–1 North London derby demolition of Spurs.

ArsenalTalks News Analysis | February 24, 2026

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League in style with a 4–1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur on February 22, but former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has sparked debate by calling midfielder Declan Rice “too emotional” during key moments of the derby.

The criticism came during an episode of The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, where Scholes and ex-teammate Nicky Butt dissected Arsenal’s dominant display. While the Gunners bounced back emphatically from a frustrating Wolves draw, Scholes focused on Rice’s first-half error that briefly threatened to derail their afternoon.

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After Eberechi Eze gave Arsenal a 31st-minute lead, Rice was dispossessed on the edge of his own box just two minutes later. Randal Kolo Muani pounced and levelled the score instantly, exposing a rare vulnerability in Mikel Arteta’s side.

Scholes highlighted Rice’s behaviour immediately before the mistake — pumping fists, shouting encouragement, and rallying the team and travelling supporters.

“When I look at Declan Rice, he almost looks too emotional,” Scholes said. “He’s lively, he’s ‘Come on! Come on! Come on!’, and then he makes his mistake. When you’re going for a league title, there has to be a calmness about you. I think potentially [he’s a captain]. It’s just when I look at him now, he’s so emotional.”

Scholes added:
“I don’t like people being so emotional like that. People will call me a miserable bastard and say you don’t want emotion in the game. We do — but it has to be in the right way. Scoring and celebrating, that’s fine. Game-management needs calmness.”

Butt supports Rice as a leader but urges composure

Former United midfielder Nicky Butt largely agreed with Scholes about the need for calm in high-pressure games but defended Rice’s leadership.

“I get what Scholesy is saying — he wants to win so much and he made that mistake yesterday. They need some calmness, but I think he is a top leader,” Butt said. “If there’s any English player I’d take to Manchester United right now, it would be Declan Rice.”

Butt noted the lack of immediate peer response after Rice’s error, contrasting it with the confrontational leadership culture of Ferguson-era United and past Arsenal sides.

Despite the scare, Arsenal dominated the second half. Viktor Gyökeres restored the lead early, Eze scored his second, and Gyökeres sealed the rout in stoppage time. Eze now has five of his six Premier League goals against Tottenham, cementing his derby-specialist reputation.

The result leaves Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City. Yet Scholes and Butt’s discussion highlights a recurring narrative: Arteta’s squad blends brilliance with occasional lapses in focus and intensity, a factor that could prove decisive in a title race.

Looking ahead: Rice and Arsenal’s next test

Rice, signed from West Ham for a club-record £105m in 2023, has been pivotal for Arsenal this season and is tipped to become a future captain. Arteta has praised his leadership and consistency.

The 26-year-old faces another high-pressure test this weekend when Arsenal host Chelsea. A win would consolidate their top-spot and reinforce Rice’s standing as a leader capable of channeling emotion into calm, decisive performance.

Scholes’ comments, while critical, come from respect for Arteta’s project. The Premier League’s remaining 12 games will test whether Rice and his teammates can balance passion with composure in the hunt for Arsenal’s first league title in 22 years.

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