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.”
JAMIE CARRAGHER OPENLY QUESTIONS ALEXANDER ISAK’S LONG-TERM FUTURE AT THE ANFIELD STADIUM
After a record £125M move, Alexander Isak’s debut season has been tough. We analyse Jamie Carragher’s harsh verdict on the Liverpool star.
Jamie Carragher isn’t convinced Alexander Isak will ever really shine at Anfield. After arriving last summer in a record-breaking £125 million deal from Newcastle, Isak’s first season has been rough. He managed to grab his fourth goal for Liverpool during their 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday; it was only his third start since coming back from a broken leg he picked up against Tottenham in December.
But, honestly, Carragher doesn’t see the Swedish striker justifying that massive price anytime soon. He’s worried because, from what he’s seen, players who flop in their debut season at Liverpool rarely turn things around afterwards.
“The big-money signings just haven’t worked out,” Carragher told the ECHO. “Sure, maybe we’ll see something change in the future, as judging players solely based on their first year isn’t always fair. But from my experience as a Liverpool player, I struggle to recall anyone anonymous in their first season and then suddenly turning into a superstar. Isak hasn’t really got going. He got injured, yeah, but even before that, he just didn’t look up to it.”
Isak’s situation is a little complicated, though. Slot’s side was in transition after their Premier League title win, and suddenly they had £446 million worth of new players to shuffle into the squad – a major headache for any manager. Then there’s Isak’s injury late in 2026, which pretty much torpedoed his season, leaving Liverpool even more vulnerable.
Carragher feels Liverpool needs to act this summer if they want to get back in the title race. “Liverpool definitely needs to replace Salah,” he said. “For me, three new players have to walk straight into the starting lineup. You can’t overhaul the squad with five new guys at once. They bought plenty last summer, so don’t expect a flood of signings again.”
Let’s face it, the declines of Salah and Van Dijk, plus Alisson’s constant injuries, have really hurt Liverpool. Those three have been pillars for the team, so naturally, things go south when they’re off or missing.
Still, fans have a right to expect more after spending £446 million. Isak may receive leniency this season, but if performance doesn’t improve next year, Liverpool could potentially be remembered as the owners of the worst flop signing in Premier League history.
MARTIN ODEGAARD RALLIES ARSENAL SQUAD AMID FEARS OF PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE "COLLAPSE"
Martin Odegaard says Arsenal’s title race is wide open. Read why Wayne Rooney is defending the players against fan boos.
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Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard isn’t backing down. Even after Manchester City edged out the Gunners 2-1 at the Etihad, he says the Premier League title race is still wide open.
That loss stung; it leaves Arsenal on the verge of losing the top spot they’ve held for over 200 days. If City beat Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday, Arsenal’s stretch at the summit ends, with just five games left in the season.
But the story isn’t over yet. Even if City pulls level on points, Odegaard wants his teammates focused on one thing: bouncing back with a win against Newcastle at the Emirates this Saturday.
“We have to keep going,” Odegaard said after the match. “This was always going to go to the wire, so we have to stick together, keep working, and look to the next game. We’ll move on, bounce back, and right now, it’s all still to play for. Honestly, this is the fun part of the season; we can’t wait for the next game.”
It’s been a tough stretch for Arsenal. Sunday’s loss marked the fourth defeat in a row across domestic competitions, starting with City beating them in the Carabao Cup final, a surprising FA Cup defeat to Southampton, and a crushing home loss to Bournemouth.
The cracks are showing, and some supporters have started to worry Arsenal are “bottling” their title charge. The Emirates felt tense after the Bournemouth game, the crowd frustrated enough to boo as the players left the pitch.
But there’s not much time to dwell on it. While City are juggling their FA Cup semi-final this weekend, Arsenal host a shaky Newcastle side. It’s a golden chance to reset and claw back some momentum.
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney has stepped in with a message for Arsenal fans: now’s the time to rally. Speaking on the BBC’s The Wayne Rooney Show, he didn’t mince words. “Arsenal fans need to be better. I saw them boo the team. Look, Arsenal have been brilliant all season. They’re having a bad run, but fan support means everything to those players.”
He gets it: getting booed after a tough run cuts deep. “Arsenal’s players have worked so hard to be in this position. If you want to win the league, the fans have to help. They’re desperate to win, but they have a part to play.”
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