Declan Rice: Arsenal know what’s required to beat Manchester City, bring it on

Rice made no attempt to downplay the magnitude of the occasion, instead embracing it with the kind of directness that has defined his leadership role at Arsenal since joining from West Ham in 2023.

“The Etihad (Stadium) is the ultimate test but it’s why we play this game,” he said in conversation with The Independent ahead of Sunday’s trip to the north-west.

“So bring it on. It’s beautiful and I can’t wait. Manchester City have obviously been in really good form. No one’s going to hand you anything in this league.

“There’s been a lot of noise but ultimately, it’s down to us as players. That’s why we’re professionals, why we play this game. To go there and win would be a massive statement and look, these boys are ready. We spoke as a group. We know what’s required.”

It hurt watching City lift the Carabao Cup, admits Rice

The 27-year-old also addressed the emotional context that adds a further edge to Sunday’s fixture, pointing to City’s 2-0 Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal at Wembley in March as a source of burning motivation.

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“It hurts losing every final. To see Manchester City lift that, it did hurt,” the midfielder added. “There is that fire in the stomach to eradicate that this weekend.”

The defeat at Wembley represented a significant missed opportunity for a club that has now gone over two decades without winning the Premier League

For Rice, signed by Arsenal for a then-British record fee to be the driving force in the Gunners’ midfield, the pain of that defeat clearly has not faded and Sunday’s visit to the Etihad Stadium represents the next opportunity to rewrite the narrative.

City’s own players have been equally bullish in the build-up, with Rayan Cherki insisting he does not feel the pressure and Jeremy Doku declaring the race is on ahead of what promises to be an extraordinary afternoon of Premier League football in east Manchester.