Declan Rice remains hopeful of winning the Premier League (Image: Sky Sports)
Declan Rice told his Arsenal team-mates that the Premier League title race isn’t over immediately after their loss to Manchester City. Erling Haaland fired Pep Guardiola’s team to victory at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, reducing the Gunners’ advantage at the summit of the table to only three points. Manchester City could overtake the north Londoners when they visit Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday evening, provided they win their game in hand by at least two goals.
With such minimal distance separating the title contenders, Rice remains optimistic about claiming some silverware. After the final whistle, the Sky Sports television cameras captured the Arsenal midfielder encouraging his team-mates moments after the final whistle. As Rice greeted Martin Odegaard in the centre of the pitch, he said: “It’s not over.” Mikel Arteta was echoing the same sentiment in his post-match press conference, declaring that the end-of-season run-in as a ‘new league’.
The Gunners manager said: “I believe today, I believe on Wednesday a week ago because I see them every day and I know the level that we have. But today if they need to be more convinced, I think they are now more convinced.
“They were talking about it in the dressing room. It’s a new league now. They were a game in hand. We have three points of advantage and five games to play. So everything is still to play for. So we know how much we’ve won it and we’re not going to stop and we’re going to go again, that’s for sure.”
While Pep Guardiola warned his City team: “But the reality is just one thing: they are top of the league. One ahead on goal difference. We have to enjoy it, celebrate it, take the good things. But don’t lose the focus. In three days we go to Burnley.”
Arteta told Sky Sports he felt that his team were unlucky. He added: “We take it game by game. We had very good moments a few days ago in the Champions League against Sporting. We are playing so many games. We are the only team that’s playing, playing, playing and playing.
“But the positive thing is we have seen the level, we can cope with that, and not just that but do even better. There are five games to go, but we’re going to give a real go for it. We have full belief we can do it. Today we have shown the team that we are. It’s still in our hands, and it’s there for the taking.
Declan Rice remains optimistic about Arsenal’s title challenge (Image: Getty)
“When you don’t [take the chances] and they have the individual quality, that’s the risk. Because you lose the game. I don’t think there was any difference between the two teams. There is an element of luck, whether the ball goes in or not.”
Gunners captain Martin Odegaard reacted: “Disappointed not to win. We wanted to come and get a result. We were really up for it today and played a good game. Pressed them well, we really had some good moments on the high press. Second half, we looked a lot more dangerous, had a few big, big moments in front of goal.
“Small margins to decide a game like this. We weren’t sharp enough in front of goal. That’s why we come away with nothing. That’s football at this level. Two teams going head-to-head like this, it was always going to be like that. Small margins, frustrating, but a lot of good things in the game from us. We did some really good things. It’s about looking forward to the next game and pushing forward to the end.
“A decent performance, small margins, you have to look for the next one. There’s always that pressure in football. Always noise. That’s a part of being a football player at this level. We are going to keep going, focus on ourselves. Look forward to the next game and move on. That’s all we’re doing to do.”
Asked if he still believes Arsenal can win the league, the skipper replied simply: “Of course.”