Arsenal fans spotted Declan Rice signing along to Louis Dunford’s The Angel in the build-up to their opening Premier League fixture on Saturday.

Arsenal's English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka (L) with Arsenal's English midfielder #41 Declan Rice (C) and Arsenal's English striker #14 Eddie Nketiah celebrates scoring the team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 12, 2023. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (L) with Declan Rice (C) and Eddie Nketiah celebrate scoring the team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 12, 2023. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

In what has become commonplace at the Emirates Stadium, the Arsenal fans serenaded the team ahead of Saturday’s Premier League game against Nottingham Forest with Louis Dunford’s song The Angel – also known as “North London Forever”.

But it wasn’t just the supporters. Viewers following TNT Sports’ coverage of the game noticed Declan Rice also singing along in the pre-match huddle.

Arsenal's English midfielder Declan Rice (C) lifts the trophy after Arsenal win the shoot-out after the English FA Community Shield football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, in London, August 6, 2023. Arsenal won after a 4-1 penalty shoot-out win, following the 1-1 draw in 90 minutes. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s English midfielder Declan Rice (C) lifts the trophy after Arsenal win the shoot-out after the English FA Community Shield football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, in London, August 6, 2023. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

It’s hard to blame the Arsenal new boy, as the song is certainly pretty catchy.

The players don’t generally sing along with the fans ahead of the game, but it’s nice to see Rice making an effort to build that connection with the supporters.

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That’s been evident throughout the pre-season tour, in Rice’s interviews and on social media, and this is just the latest example to endear him to the Arsenal fanbase.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 19: Declan Rice #41 of Arsenal FC thanks fans following the MLS All-Star Game between Arsenal FC and MLS All-Stars at Audi Field on July 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC: Declan Rice #41 of Arsenal FC thanks fans following the MLS All-Star Game between Arsenal FC and MLS All-Stars at Audi Field on July 19, 2023. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

West Ham United also have a pre-game song – I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles – so the concept is certainly something Rice is accustomed to.

It’s proved a good way to get the fans going ahead of kick-off at the Emirates Stadium, and it seems like a tradition that’s likely to stick around now.

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