Noni Madueke and Declan Rice reply to Djed Spence’s message after PSG loss
Arsenal had to hurry to fit in an open-top bus parade between the Champions League final and their players’ late trips to join their national teams for the 2026 World Cup. The Gunners lost on penalties to PSG in Budapest on Saturday, but Sunday was all about celebrating their first Premier League title since 2004.
Arsenal, PSG, Crystal Palace, and Rayo Vallecano didn’t have to send their players to international duty by FIFA’s usual deadline because of their European finals. Now, with the World Cup just 10 days away, these players are joining their national squads.
When Noni Madueke, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Eberechi Eze head to the England camp, they’ll reunite with Tottenham’s full-back Djed Spence. England fans who remember the past club rivalries hope that those old divisions stay behind when these North London players train together.
Spence had a playful response on social media after Arsenal shared a photo of him getting tangled with two Gunners in the recent North London derby. After Arsenal posted a padlock emoji, Spence cheekily replied with eyes and an unlocked padlock emoji following their shoot-out loss. It was a bold move, especially just before Arsenal’s title celebrations.
On the day of Arsenal’s parade, Madueke shared a photo of himself with the Premier League trophy alongside an England teammate, with fans cheering wildly. “Champions! Whilst others are tweeting and posting,” he wrote, ending with a laughing emoji. “Thank you God. The glory is yours!”
Friendly teasing between competitive young players from rival teams isn’t new, but the positive spirit in Gareth Southgate’s England squads will now be put to the test as their big tournament approaches. Social media makes these jabs more public than ever.
Declan Rice added a cheeky reply, “Jealousy everywhere.”
England will travel to the United States for warm-up games against New Zealand and Costa Rica. Their World Cup base will be in Kansas City, with their first match against Croatia at AT&T Stadium on June 17. They’ll also face Ghana at Gillette Stadium and Panama at MetLife Stadium in their group stage.
Coach Thomas Tuchel’s squad includes players from top clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Spurs, promising an exciting tournament ahead.