DECLAN RICE ISSUES DEFIANT "FOUR GAMES LEFT" WARNING TO MANCHESTER CITY
Arsenal sit three points clear after beating Newcastle. Declan Rice discusses the title race and the Atletico Madrid semi-final.
Declan Rice made it clear that Arsenal aren’t about to give up their Premier League lead without a fight. They jumped back above Manchester City with a tight 1-0 win over Newcastle at the Emirates, thanks to Eberechi Eze’s goal in the ninth minute.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was exactly what they needed. Now Arsenal sit three points ahead of City, though they’ve played one game more. They get a chance to stretch that gap when Fulham visit the Emirates next weekend. Meanwhile, City don’t play again until May 4, when they go to Everton, so all eyes are on Arsenal for now.
It’s crunch time. After Fulham, Arsenal face West Ham, Burnley, and Crystal Palace. If they get through that run, the first league title in over two decades could finally be theirs.
Even though City have made things nervy again, the mood’s upbeat in the Arsenal camp. Rice put it bluntly: “That’s been the mood all season, and it’s how we want to finish on top, staying positive.”
He knows where things stand. “Four games left. We just want to keep winning. We’re ready for it.”
Beating Newcastle was huge for their confidence, especially after last week’s clash with City. “We knew with five games left, we had to win every single one. Getting this one done was a real lift.”
But before next weekend, Arsenal head to Spain to face Atlético Madrid in the Champions League semi-final. They haven’t been to a Champions League final since 2006, and the trophy has always been just out of reach, but Rice sounded ready. “We’ve played at the top level for the last few years. We know the drill. We’re in the semis, so let’s go embrace it and give it everything.”
He admitted it’s easy to look ahead, but you just can’t afford to. “When you’re in the thick of it, like against Newcastle, you can’t think about what’s next. Now it’s Atletico, and that’s all that matters. It’s about focusing on the next thing in front of us.”
There’s a worry, though. Eze had to come off against Newcastle, and now there are questions about his fitness for the first leg in Spain. That would be a real blow, especially since he’s playing some of his best football already, with 11 goals for the season after that early strike Saturday.
Rice had nothing but praise for him. “That’s what Eze’s here for. I’ve said it before; his shooting is unreal. He’s a top player and an even better guy. We need him fit for this stretch.”
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
