In Praise of Pat Rice

This weekend when Arsenal leave the pitch after playing Norwich, it will likely be the last time any supporter sees Pat Rice sitting next to Arsene Wenger at the Emirates.  After staying on a year longer than he had originally planned, Pat will retire and take his leave from a team he has had a role of some form since 1966.

Some people will argue that changing the number is long overdue and could be part of the reason why the team has gone stale these last 7 years. You won’t find any of that here. This is no longer the time to have that discussion. Pat is leaving of his own accord and frankly its time to praise for such loyal and steadfast service to this club.

Rice joined Arsenal in 1964 as an apprentice and signed a professional contract in 1966. The first time Arsenal fans would see Pat play for the first team was in 1967 in a league cup tie against Burnley.

Over the next 3 seasons Pat was sparingly used, having made only 16 appearances over that time. One of the reasons Pat didn’t feature much was that he was a right back but when he came into the team the first choice was Peter Storey. However, in 1970 Storey was moved into the midfield and this gave the Irishman the opportunity he was looking for and in his first season as a regular, the Gunners would win both the league and FA Cups.

Rice was an Arsenal stalwart throughout the ‘70s. From that double winning side he would be the player who stayed at the club the longest eventually being selected team Captain in 1977. With Rice as captain, Arsenal would make the FA Cup final three times, winning in ‘79 against United and losing in ’78 and ’80. Along with David Seaman and Ray Parlor he has the distinction of being one of three players to have played in five FA Cup finals.

After amassing a total of 528 games for Arsenal, Pat Rice would leave the club in 1980 and head over to Watford where he played a total of 137 times and helped them gain promotion to the old First Division. Again, Rice being as good as he was made team Captain and managed to get on the score sheet in Watford’s first match in top flight. Pat would finally retire from his playing career in 1984 at the age of 35.

Upon leaving the playing ranks, Pat returned to Arsenal to take the helm of their youth squad, a post he would for 12 years and where he would win two youth FA Cups. Then in 1996, when Stewart Houston was fired, Pat would become caretaker manager of the first team and oversee three FA Cup wins as well as a loss in the UEFA Cup.

When Arsene Wenger was made the full time manager, Rice would move over one seat and permanently take the role of the club’s number two. In interviews with Wenger, the Frenchman felt that Pat’s selection was important to the club, the fans and the players because he IS THE link to the club’s history and way of playing.  And it was as Pat as a number that Arsenal saw unrivaled success.  Pat now holds the distinction of being the only person besides Bob Wilson to have had a part in all three of Arsenal’s doubles as a player and coach.

Pat has had an enthusiasm and dedication to this club that is unsurpassed by anyone else ever associated with it. He has had a hand in developing the talent of tomorrow and guiding today’s big name players.

Much of the success the club has had under Arsene Wenger has to also be given to the steadiness that Pat Rice has brought. The Arsenal have always been about consistency, whether it’s their style of play or approach to the game in all facets. Pat Rice is a living testament to that.

There have been many who claimed that Pat has only been kept around so long because he is a ‘yes-man’ to Wenger and won’t challenge or rock the boat. From the stories I’ve read by former players and anecdotes told to me, that is far from the truth and Pat has let Wenger know his displeasure on certain matters before. It’s hard to fathom any Irishman biting their tongue when they think something is wrong.  Pat does not paint the picture of a ‘yes-man’ and his loyalty to Arsenal shouldn’t ever be construed as it.

No, his loyalty should be the case study on commitment it should remind today’s players that is more to the game than making oodles of money and the next big sponsorship.

Whether or not Pat Rice represents a dying breed of player from an era long past remains to be seen. Certainly there are some players that give me hope that he is not. Of course there are those who wantonly crash that perception. But Pat Rice reminds me of why I love this club. He reminds that this club is one of a long and great history.  When he steps aside at the end of the season none of that will change but the ever present reminder the one that has been there in one form or another since 1966 will be gone.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and wish you only the best in this next phase of your life. Thank you for your self-less service to the club.  You are a legend.