Key showdown at Etihad crucial for Gunners’ title aspirations
Declan Rice believes Arsenal must secure a victory against Manchester City this Sunday to change their reputation and prove themselves as genuine Premier League title contenders. With Arsenal and Liverpool tied at the top of the table and City trailing by just one point, this clash at the Etihad is pivotal in the race for the championship.
The Gunners have struggled at City’s home ground, suffering eight consecutive defeats, including a crucial 4-1 loss last April that allowed City to overtake them and claim the title. Rice, however, sees this Arsenal squad as having the “steeliness and character” necessary to end that streak and win at the Etihad for the first time since 2015. “If you want to get past that barrier of Arsenal being labelled [as chokers], you have to go to the Etihad and win,” Rice emphasised. “We need to show that toughness and character to prove we can be among the best.”
With ten games left in the season, the title race is the tightest it has been in a decade. Arsenal, Liverpool, or City could emerge as league leaders by the end of the weekend, with Liverpool facing Brighton at Anfield earlier on Sunday. Rice is embracing the pressure, explaining that high-stakes matches push players and teams to their limits. “In those big-pressure games, you learn a lot about yourself and the team,” he said.
Arsenal are hopeful that Bukayo Saka, who missed recent England duty due to a minor muscle injury, will be fit for the match, as well as Gabriel, who withdrew from Brazil’s squad due to an Achilles issue. Gabriel Martinelli, dealing with a foot injury, is also working towards being available.
City, meanwhile, have their own fitness concerns. Goalkeeper Ederson is sidelined with a thigh injury, and key defenders John Stones and Kyle Walker picked up knocks during international play. Pep Guardiola is assessing Manuel Akanji’s condition, adding to City’s potential defensive woes. However, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish are expected to return to training, providing a boost for City as they prepare for this high-stakes encounter.
