Declan Rice Vows Arsenal Will Win More Trophies After Premier League Title Parade

Arsenal’s 2025-26 Premier League title celebrations took over the streets of North London on 1 June 2026, with an estimated half a million supporters lining the route to welcome the champions home. The open-top bus, emblazoned with the words “Champions 25-26”, departed Emirates Stadium with the full squad on board, led by captain Martin Ødegaard carrying the trophy.

Amid the celebrations, midfielder Declan Rice seized the microphone to address the crowd directly, delivering a pointed message about the club’s ambitions. “I love this team, I love the manager,” Rice told Sky Sports. “To see the joy we can give people, it’s crazy. But, next year we’re coming back for more. You heard it here first now. Lock in or get locked out.”

The declaration came just hours after a painful conclusion to Arsenal’s European campaign. The Gunners had entered the parade having suffered defeat in the Champions League final, dashing hopes of a historic domestic and continental double. Despite that setback, Rice’s message to supporters was unambiguous — the squad’s appetite for trophies remains intact.

Arsenal’s Premier League title is their first since the 2003-04 season, when Arsène Wenger’s “Invincibles” side went the entire campaign unbeaten. The 22-year wait for a top-flight championship had become one of English football’s most discussed storylines, making the 2025-26 triumph a landmark moment for the club and its fanbase.

Rice, who joined Arsenal from West Ham United in the summer of 2023 in a deal reported to be worth around £105 million — a British transfer record at the time — has been central to the club’s resurgence under manager Mikel Arteta. The England international has developed into one of the most influential midfielders in the Premier League during his time at the club.

The scale of the celebrations reflected the significance of the achievement. Half a million supporters on the streets of North London represented one of the largest public gatherings in the city in recent memory for a sporting event. The outpouring underlined the emotional weight the title carries for a club that had come close in previous seasons without ultimately claiming the championship.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup also on the horizon, several Arsenal players — including Rice, who is expected to feature prominently for England — will carry the momentum of a title-winning season into the international tournament. For the club itself, Rice’s public commitment to further success sets the tone for what Arteta’s side will be targeting when the new Premier League season begins.