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Arsenal's superstar midfielder Declan Rice said that breaking Chelsea's all-time Premier League defensive record was never their main focus, as long as they were winning games.
Rice's Arsenal are easily one of the best teams in Europe, and although their defense has not been the best as of late, they are still the best defensive team in the world.
In fact, they were so good at the start of the season that people were talking about them potentially breaking Chelsea's insane defensive record of conceding just 15 goals in a 38-game season.
In a very in-depth interview with Simon Collings, Rice revealed that although the record was being talked about by the fanbase as well as general Premier League enthusiasts, it was never a thought that entered their mind.
Declan Rice dismisses the biggest misconception Arsenal fans had
He said: “There was never any thought of that from us. This is the Premier League now, you’re playing the best players every week. Any team can surprise you, Wolves, everyone thought we’d win comfortably but they have good players.”
He is right. As good as it would have been to beat Chelsea's near-impossible record, they have bigger things in mind in a very tough league.
Some of the goals they have conceded have been due to their own fault, but it is clear that Arsenal would not care one bit about the record as long as they win the Premier League. That is what their focus is at, and it should remain there.
Also, putting that big claim next to a team that is already challenging to win their first title in more than two decades puts a lot of added pressure, and that is probably why these players did not think about it too much, even if things were going well at the time.
Mikel Arteta was also asked about this record in many, many press conferences, and the manager was always the first to dismiss it, because he did not want his players to go through that added pressure of beating an incredible record.
Even if Arsenal are not able to beat the record, they are still the best defensive team in the world right now, and no one can take that away from them.
Of course, the Gunners would wish that some of the goals they conceded never happened, but that is what the Premier League is - you just never know, no matter what position the other team may be in.