Declan Rice wearing contact lenses 2023 | Photo of Rice adjusting contacts on pitch while playing for Arsenal against Crystal Palace

Star Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice needed help from Arsenal’s medical staff to adjust his contact lenses during their league game against Crystal Palace on 21 August, 2023.

The medio is known to wear glasses off the pitch- here is a pic of Rice wearing spectacles while attending a West Ham game.

Rice first asked Thomas Partey about the position of his lens and then Arsenal’s medical staff came on the field, and one of them then held up a mirror. Rice then made the necessary adjustments to the lens in his right eye (see picture below) and was then okay to continue on the pitch.

It’s rare to think of a famous Premier League player having slightly poor eyesight and having to wear contact lenses on the pitch, but Rice manages them fairly well- he was also MOTM against Palace.

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xG Crystal Palace Arsenal August 2023 Attendance 24,189 | Expected Goals CPFC 0-1 AFC Stats

Here is a look at the xG (expected goals) stats from Crystal Palace vs Arsenal on 21 August, 2023. Arsenal came away with a 1-0 win thanks to a second half Odegaard penalty. The Gunners also played the final quarter with ten men following a red card to Tomiyasu, but Palace couldn’t find an equaliser.

xG Palace 0.77-1.64 Arsenal (Actual score CPFC 0-1 Arsenal)

0-1 Odegaard penalty goal vs Palace xG 0.80

Apart from this goal, Arsenal’s best chances fell to Eddie Nketiah (29th minute and 36th minute)

xG Palace vs Arsenal August 2023

Palace vs Arsenal 0-1 Match Stats for comparison

(CPFC stats on left; AFC on right)

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