Declan Rice has once again addressed one of the most viral clips of Arsenal’s title-winning season.

Speaking to British GQ, the midfielder was asked about the moment after April’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, when cameras caught him mouthing “It’s not done” to Martin Odegaard after the final whistle.

Declan Rice says he genuinely meant viral ‘It’s not done’ message

“There was so much talk, it’s like ‘he knows he’s on camera saying that, blah, blah, blah’,” Rice said. “But, for me, it’s like, there’s about 200 cameras on you after a game. I don’t know what’s picking me up, what’s not. I genuinely meant that, I was saying that to Martin [Odegaard]!”

And of course he’s right. After a game that big, there’s a camera on every player on the pitch, so it’s hardly a surprise one of them picked him up. Maybe some think he should’ve waited until he got down the tunnel, but he was in a highly emotional state after such a defeat.

It’s not the first time he’s faced this sort of accusation, either. A compilation of Rice scanning did the rounds on social media not long ago, and some people suggested that was for show too. As if, in the biggest games in world football, he’s checking over his shoulder with one eye on how it’ll look on Twitter. It’s obviously nonsense. Scanning is a key part of playing in midfield at the top level, and Rice does it as well as anyone.

Declan Rice’s ‘It’s not done’ message was proved right

Again, not everyone was convinced at the time. Gary Neville was among those who thought it could backfire. He suggested that if during his playing days with Manchester United, his side had just beaten their title rivals and one of the opposition’s best players was in tears saying it wasn’t over, he’d take it as a sign they were in fact finished.

Of course, as it turned out, it wasn’t done. Arsenal went on to win the league and end a 22-year wait, with Rice winning the club’s Player of the Season award.

If anything, the clip says more about Rice than his critics would like. He cares, he wears his heart on his sleeve, and he drags the players around him along with him. It’s a big reason why once again he has probably been Arsenal’s best player this season. He’s even won some of his biggest critics over, such as Paul Scholes.

Next up is England duty. Rice is back in Thomas Tuchel’s squad after withdrawing from the last camp, and given how much Arsenal have leaned on him, fans will be hoping he comes back in one piece for the trip to Newcastle on 21 November.