Declan Rice has said Arsenal must improve quickly if they are to leave the Etihad with the title race still firmly in their hands.
Declan Rice has said Arsenal must raise their level against Manchester City, with the midfielder admitting recent performances have fallen short of the standard required before what amounts to the biggest league test of the season.
Arsenal go to the Etihad Stadium top of the table, with 21 wins, seven draws and four defeats in the league, but the sense around this game is that they are starting to falter after losing to City in the Carabao Cup final, Southampton in the FA Cup and then to Bournemouth last weekend in the Premier League.
City have the momentum, Arsenal have the points on the board, and the outcome of this match will likely shape the title race from here.
For all the talk about City’s attacking talent, and the familiar threat posed by the likes of Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku, Arsenal travel with the strongest defensive record in the division and with a far more mature side than the one that used to come here and unravel.
The partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel has been central to that, and so has the wider sense that this Arsenal team are now better equipped to manage major occasions. Mostly.
Article continues below
- Liverpool reach verbal agreement with PSG winger as Arsenal focus on ViniciusArsenal still have an interest in Bradley Barcola, but they’re prioritising Vinicius Junior, allowing Liverpool to take the lead in the race for the Paris Saint-Germain winger.
- Arsenal transfer pursuit complicated by Real Madrid clausesArsenal have followed Como defender Jacobo Ramon’s progress closely, but Real Madrid could disrupt any attempt to sign the centre-back.
- Arsenal defensive target now set to join Inter MilanArsenal are set to miss out on one of their shortlisted defensive transfer additions, with John Stones edging towards a free transfer to Inter Milan.
- The FA confirm 3 new anti-timewasting rulesThe FA have confirmed that the International Football Association Board have approved a new goalkeeper injury trial for the 2026/27 Premier League season.
- Former Arsenal fan favourite training with Crystal Palace ahead of possible moveTakehiro Tomiyasu’s move to Venezia is still on, but the Serie A club need to make squad space before they can formally register the former Arsenal defender.
Even so, Rice made clear there can be no comfort taken from any of that if their level does not improve immediately after the recent displays against Bournemouth and Sporting.
“There’s no beating around the bush,” he said. “We have to perform better than we did against Bournemouth and you can say against Sporting as well.
“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.
“The Etihad is the ultimate test – but it’s why we play this game. So, bring it on. I can’t wait. It’s why we play the game.
“It comes down to if you’re going to be ready and how much you want it.”
Avoid defeat and Arsenal keep City at arm’s length.
Lose, and they hand Manchester one of the handles of the trophy.
It’s really that simple.
If you’d like to see what state the City squad is in, you can do that here.
- Liverpool reach verbal agreement with PSG winger as Arsenal focus on Vinicius
Arsenal still have an interest in Bradley Barcola, but they’re prioritising Vinicius Junior, allowing Liverpool to take the lead in the race for the Paris Saint-Germain winger. - Arsenal transfer pursuit complicated by Real Madrid clauses
Arsenal have followed Como defender Jacobo Ramon’s progress closely, but Real Madrid could disrupt any attempt to sign the centre-back. - Arsenal defensive target now set to join Inter Milan
Arsenal are set to miss out on one of their shortlisted defensive transfer additions, with John Stones edging towards a free transfer to Inter Milan. - The FA confirm 3 new anti-timewasting rules
The FA have confirmed that the International Football Association Board have approved a new goalkeeper injury trial for the 2026/27 Premier League season. - Former Arsenal fan favourite training with Crystal Palace ahead of possible move
Takehiro Tomiyasu’s move to Venezia is still on, but the Serie A club need to make squad space before they can formally register the former Arsenal defender.