Declan Rice Sends Emotional Message to Arsenal Fans After Carabao Cup Final Defeat
England international Declan Rice has publicly reacted to Arsenal's disappointing 2-0 loss against Manchester City in the 2026 Carabao Cup final, which took place on Sunday, March 22. The midfielder took to social media to address the Gunners' faithful, vowing that the team would finish the current season strongly despite this setback.
Manchester City Dominates with Academy Graduate's Brace
Manchester City demonstrated their superiority in the final through academy product Nico O'Reilly, who scored both goals in a decisive four-minute spell. The 21-year-old's first goal came following a costly error from Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who fumbled Rayan Cherki's cross, allowing O'Reilly to head home from Matheus Nunes' delivery.
This victory secured the first major trophy of the season for Pep Guardiola's side, while Arsenal extended their unwanted record of losing their last four League Cup finals. Despite late efforts from substitutes Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Jesus, both hitting the woodwork, Arsenal could not mount a comeback at Wembley Stadium.
Rice's Promise to Arsenal Supporters
In a viral tweet that quickly circulated among football fans, the 27-year-old midfielder expressed his gratitude to Arsenal's loyal supporters while looking ahead to future challenges. Rice wrote: "One final defeat doesn't define us. Only makes us hungrier to go on & finish the season strong. Thank you to our amazing fans as always. See you after the break.❤️"
The former West Ham United player offered a candid assessment of the match, suggesting that Manchester City did not necessarily win the game through superior play but rather benefited from Arsenal's mistakes. "It's very, very disappointing. Very tough. It's a final you didn't want to lose, but ultimately, today we've given them the two chances," Rice stated in post-match comments.
Looking Forward to Season's Conclusion
Rice emphasized that the match could have unfolded differently if Arsenal had capitalized on their first-half opportunities. "We've got to look at ourselves, it could've been a different game if we scored that one in the first half. There were a lot of positives in the first half. But look, we keep going. A lot of positives to still look forward for the end of the season," he added, according to reports from The Mirror.
Arsenal reached the final after defeating London rivals Chelsea 4-2 on aggregate, while Manchester City secured their place with a 4-0 aggregate victory over Newcastle United. The Gunners now turn their attention to upcoming fixtures, including an FA Cup quarterfinal against Southampton and a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal clash with Sporting Lisbon following the international break.
Manager's Reaction to the Loss
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also expressed his disappointment following the final, describing it as "a sad day for the club" and acknowledging that the defeat leaves "a bad taste" for everyone involved. The Spanish coach emphasized that the team had desperately wanted to win the trophy and now must regroup for the remainder of the campaign.
Despite this setback, Declan Rice's message underscores the determination within the Arsenal squad to respond positively and pursue success in their remaining competitions this season.
