Declan Rice reaches 300 Premier League games as Arsenal  rout Leeds United 4–0 at Elland Road

A milestone appearance and a title-race statement converged on January 31, 2026, when Declan Rice made his 300th Premier League appearance in a commanding 4–0 away win for Arsenal over Leeds United. 

The win restored momentum after a difficult league patch and pushed Arsenal seven points clear at the top at the time of the match, with rivals dropping points the following day reinforcing the gap at the summit. 

The match, verified

Match reports show Arsenal’s goals came from:

• Martin Zubimendi (27’)

• A corner swung in by Noni Madueke that was initially logged as an own goal by the Leeds goalkeeper, but later credited to Madueke by the Premier League after a review (38’) 

• Viktor Gyökeres (69’)

• Gabriel Jesus (86’) 

There was also late pre-match disruption for Arsenal: Bukayo Saka was withdrawn with an injury issue, and Madueke stepped in and delivered a defining contribution. 

Why Rice’s “300” is a genuine outlier

Reaching 300 Premier League appearances at 27 places Rice among the youngest ever to hit the mark—an indicator not just of quality, but of durability and selection certainty across seasons. 

The milestone is built on volume from his West Ham United years and sustained prominence since his move to Arsenal, where he has become a structural piece of Mikel Arteta’s midfield. 

Respect across rival lines

In the hours after the match, reports noted that Bruno Fernandes—captain of Manchester United—publicly acknowledged the milestone by commenting “class” on Rice’s post, a small but telling nod that cut through club rivalry. 

Title-race context

The performance was widely framed as a “reset” win: a controlled, assertive away display that quieted short-term noise and re-established Arsenal’s pace-setting authority. 

Pundit Paul Merson went further, calling the dominance at Elland Road the kind of result that can define a championship run-in.