Declan Rice lifts the lid on his first six months

What do you think is the most important ingredient of a team?

I think the most important ingredient of a team is having a manager that you all believe in and having someone that you respect and you know they’re in charge. You need someone there that, as players, you know that every single day you have to be at it, and with this group here the togetherness is incredible.

Everyone comes in every day to work happy, work hard and we ultimately set up every single week with the goal of winning football matches. I feel like as a team the best ingredient is that, having a respectful group and a great manager who everyone applies themselves to and works towards. I think that brings about success.

What does team spirit mean to you?

I think the key is bonding like we’ve just experienced out in Dubai. It’s important to go out for dinners as a team and to put in the time to really get to know each other.

Team spirit can be easy to have when things are going well, but in matches when situations are getting tough, that’s when your team spirit will really be tested. That’s when it’s all about sticking together.

At the training ground on a day-to-day basis, team spirit is how you spend time with each other and mix with people, both players and staff. There are so many different things that contribute towards building team spirit.

Tell us about the first team you ever played for - Were you the captain as a kid?

My first ever team was Chelsea, aged eight. I wasn’t the captain, but I was always the team joker. I was really outgoing and always wanted to have a laugh and a joke, but I always had that drive and mentality too. I wanted to win and be successful.

Tell us about your current team-mates. Who are you closest to in the team?

To be fair, I’ve formed a lot of really good relationships here. There’s a lot of different cultures and I’m really close with Gabriel Maghalaes – we get on so, so well. Alex Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and Aaron Ramsdale too.

I get on with everyone, I talk to everyone and it’s great to have a good relationship with so many different people in the team. I look around and I think these are the people that I want to win stuff with and have a long career with.

How much have you learned about different countries and cultures from teammates?

They’ve taught me so much. Take me and Gabriel for example. We’re both completely different personalities from completely different backgrounds and we play football in a different way too, but we learn so much from each other and we’ve formed a really good friendship.

It’s what I love about the Premier League and Arsenal – it’s such a multicultural environment, and everyone understands that and respects it. There’s not one player here who doesn’t get along with everyone else. That’s what makes this group so special.

Have you picked up much language from teammates?

No, I’m shocking!

How important is diversity in a team?

It’s so important. If you look at the best teams in almost any sport and which teams have won the Premier League over the last 20 years or so, there’s always diversity in backgrounds, ethnicity and ages.

I think it’s essential for a successful team and that’s why it’s so important to have a diverse changing room because everyone can bring something different and everyone needs to learn from each other.

The football culture in Spain or Brazil is completely different to over here, and it’s the same for our playing styles. Everyone has different techniques, abilities and qualities that they bring to the team, and because of that I honestly don’t think you’d want to have a team full of people from the same area with the same qualities because they might not have the answer or solution to solve a problem that a diverse team can.

"the most important ingredient of a team is having a manager that you all believe in and someone that you respect"

How do you spend a day away from football?

On the golf course! We don’t have too many golfers here at Arsenal, but I’ve played a good amount with Rammers. Other than that, I just like to chill out. It’s really important to take it easy when you get the chance to have some down time.

We have got one of the youngest teams in the league. What benefits does that bring?

Hunger. Excitement. The desire to win. I think to be doing what we’re doing in the Premier League with a team this young is really, really special. I think there’s so much more to come from so many of us. We’re a group of really hungry players who want to succeed and will do anything to get there.

Can you think of a time when the team has been there for you at a difficult moment?

I’ve made mistakes for England and I’ve made mistakes for West Ham. I’ve been taken off at half-time, but thankfully I’ve always had great characters and captains around me to pick me back up. They’ve told me the beauty of football is that there’s always another match.

I’ve received some great advice over the years, but that’s one that always stands out. You can make a mistake and in that moment it’s painful, but sometimes just three days later you have another game and you have the chance to rectify your mistake.

It’s important to learn from mistakes, but it’s also important to focus on what’s ahead. If you stay in the past you’re going to keep thinking about the mistake, and you’ll be no good to anyone in a team environment.

How much do you know or remember about the Invincibles team?

What’s so great about the Invincibles is that I’m not sure it will ever happen again. The mentality of that team was just something else. We’ve seen teams have an incredible record at home over the course of a whole season, but to travel away from home 19 times and not be beaten once – unbelievable.

There would have been some games where they were really tested, but every single time they came up with an answer. If they couldn’t win, they would dig deep and make sure they left with a point. It’s one of the best achievements you could ever have in football.

Could you imagine playing an individual sport like golf or tennis rather than a team sport?

I think golf is one of the most mentally challenging sports out there. Tennis too because it’s just you and you need to battle through your emotions, whereas in football we’re lucky because if you’re not having the best of games or you’re not feeling quite right, you’ve got your teammates around you to lift you up or help you out.

In tennis or golf the spotlight is entirely on you and you need to solve that problem yourself. No one else is there and I think it’s one of the toughest things to do, which is why I really respect and admire them.

Do you know any individual sport athletes?

I was able to play a little bit with Rory McIlroy last week in Dubai and that was great fun. I’m quite fortunate because I’ve been connected to a few sportsmen over the years and I’ve had the pleasure of spending some time with them in their world.

I know a few snooker players, a few tennis players, golfers. They’re all different sports with different challenges, so I just love being able to spend some time with them and having the chance to pick their brains. In a team sport you’re following what the manager wants, but in an individual sport it’s your call and you have full freedom to play the game exactly as you want because it’s only you out there.

There’s a whole team behind the team at Arsenal – the medical team and coaches. How much time do you spend with them?

I spend a lot of time with the staff here, but honestly, I don’t see them as staff. I don’t like dividing them away from us in that sense. We’re all part of the team and I see everyone here as my friend. I want them to be able to come to me and speak with honesty and be able to have a laugh too.

I think that’s really important and it’s why I really enjoyed the training camp in Dubai because we had a group barbecue and it gave us the chance to talk more, play some pool at the end of the night and get to know each other better as people.

"If you stay in the past you’re going to keep thinking about the mistake, and you’ll be no good to anyone in a team environment"

How often do you have team and on-on-one meetings with the coaches?

I can have meetings with the coaches whenever I feel like I need one. They’re always open to a conversation and I know I can knock on their door whenever to talk football or anything really. Sometimes they will call you for a meeting, but other times you’ll be the one to instigate it.

It’s the same with Mikel. As for team meetings, Mikel will host pretty much all of them. They can be before games, after training, ahead of a really important block. Basically, anytime a clear message needs to be sent.

What’s the best example of togetherness with the supporters you can remember?

Obviously I’ve not been at Arsenal too long, but I just feel like over the past five years the club has made so much progress on and off the pitch and that there’s a new connection between the club and the supporters.

That’s happened because the club has stuck together, trusted the youth, invested and had a clear process in place for where they want to go. I think all of the fans can see that vision too and that’s why there’s such a feeling of togetherness around the entire club right now.

What’s your own personal team?

The people closest to me are incredibly special. They’re the best. I’m incredibly lucky that I’ve got so many people who are level-headed and keep me focused. They’re up front, honest and tell me when things are wrong.

In my personal life and at the training ground, I’ve built relationships with so many people and I feel like I’m on a level with people who I can speak honestly with. That’s what’s best for me and it’s something I don’t take for granted.