Arsenal star Declan Rice sends fighting message to Man City ahead of title showdown clash

Callum Vurley
Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:51:31 +0000

Declan Rice has issued a bold warning to Manchester City, insisting Arsenal are fully prepared to seize control of the Premier League title race when the two sides meet at the Etihad on Sunday.

The midfielder described the upcoming encounter as "the ultimate test" but made clear his teammates are embracing the challenge rather than fearing it.

"It's beautiful and I can't wait. It's why we play the game," Rice told TNT Sports following Wednesday's Champions League progression.

"To go there and win would be a massive statement and look, these boys are ready. We spoke as a group. We know what's required. So yeah, bring it on."

Rice was candid about Arsenal's recent struggles, acknowledging the team must raise their standards significantly for the weekend showdown.

"There's no beating around the bush. We have to perform better than we did against Bournemouth and you can say tonight [against Sporting as well]," he admitted.

The 27-year-old identified specific areas requiring attention, pointing to careless distribution and a lack of composure in possession.

"Recently, we probably have made too many errors than we have done in previous weeks. It's about doing the basics a little bit better to a better level – just the five, 10-yard passes that we're giving away a bit sloppily."

Arsenal have managed just a single victory in their previous five fixtures across all competitions.

Rice revealed the sting of last month's Carabao Cup final defeat at Wembley continues to fuel his determination ahead of Sunday's clash.

"It hurts losing every final," he said. "To see them lift that, it did hurt. There is that fire in the stomach to eradicate that this weekend."

The England international acknowledged City deserved their triumph on the day but refused to let that memory fade without response.

"We had to show them respect. We shared the pitch for 90 minutes and ultimately on the day they were the better team," Rice added.

With six league matches remaining, the midfielder views this weekend as an opportunity for redemption.

Arsenal travel to Manchester with a six-point advantage at the summit, though Pep Guardiola's side possess a game in hand that could alter the complexion of the race.

The Gunners secured their passage to the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday, where they will face Atletico Madrid for a place in the final.

A goalless draw against Sporting at the Emirates proved sufficient following Kai Havertz's dramatic late winner in the first leg in Lisbon.

City arrive in strong form after dismantling Chelsea 3-0 away from home, while Arsenal's recent 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth allowed their rivals to close the gap.