Arsenal's dominant win, Bruno's response sparks fan discussions

The crushing 4-0 triumph against Leeds United helped Arsenal firmly secure first place in the Premier League and became a significant landmark in Declan Rice's professional journey.

The English midfielder officially reached 300 appearances in the top tier of English football, an impressive achievement admired by many peers, including Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes.

For Declan Rice, the match against Leeds held special significance. Reaching 300 Premier League appearances is a milestone few players his age have achieved. After the game, the 1999-born midfielder shared this memorable moment on social media and quickly received congratulations from Bruno Fernandes. The Manchester United captain left a brief comment: “Class” (Meaning "Top quality"), accompanied by a clapping emoji, enough to show respect for his fellow professional.

At Elland Road, Arsenal showed a completely different performance compared to the previous three winless matches. Under coach Mikel Arteta, the team quickly took control and imposed their style against Leeds, who had lost only once in their last 11 matches. The opening goal came in the 27th minute when Martin Zubimendi rose high to head the ball perfectly, laying the foundation for a resounding away win.

Arsenal’s advantage doubled after an unfortunate own goal by Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow. Before the home team could regain composure, Viktor Gyokeres extinguished any remaining hope with his fourth goal in six games. Gabriel Jesus sealed Arsenal’s perfect evening with a 4-0 finish in the final minutes.

This victory allowed Arsenal to extend their lead over direct rivals, especially as Manchester City and Aston Villa failed to secure wins this round. More importantly, the display at Elland Road showed Arsenal’s real return to the Premier League title race after a pressured period of stagnation.

Over 200 of Rice’s 300 Premier League appearances came with West Ham, the club where he grew up and developed into a star. Last summer, Arsenal invested over £100 million to sign the former "Hammers" captain, and this investment is proving worthwhile. Rice not only provides solidity in midfield but has also become a leadership figure in Arteta’s tactics.

After the match, coach Mikel Arteta expressed his satisfaction: “We are very pleased with this performance. Against a tough opponent, in a passionate atmosphere, the players showed spirit, belief, and top-level quality. This is exactly what we need to continue the race.”

With the current form and key players hitting their peak, Arsenal has every reason to dream of the Premier League title, while Declan Rice is proving why he is regarded as one of the world’s most complete midfielders.