Declan Rice says Arsenal ready to hunt down Liverpool after thrashing Manchester City 5-1
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Arsenal's Declan Rice celebrating after the 5-1 English Premier League win over Manchester City at the Emirates on Feb 2.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Arsenal remain comfortably adrift of relentless English Premier League leaders Liverpool despite a 5-1 hammering of Manchester City
Rice provided two assists at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal sent a reminder to Liverpool that they are not about to give up the chase.
Liverpool are six points in front of second-placed Arsenal with a game in hand and have shown little sign of slipping up in their pursuit of a 20th league crown. But Rice warned there is still a long way to go.
“Liverpool are still quite far in front especially with the game in hand and with them winning yesterday, you know going into the game that you have to win,” the 26-year-old told Sky Sports.
“It’s more disappointing the games like Aston Villa when we were 2-0 up and dropped points because we could be up there closer to Liverpool.
“But we will be there and we will keep pushing. We do need others to help us but we know what the goal is and that’s to hunt them down and win the Premier League. We need to stay positive and I’m sure we will be fine.”
Arsenal had fallen just short in the last two seasons, as City kept Mikel Arteta’s side at bay to extend their title-winning streak to four in a row.
On Feb 2, goals by Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz and Ethan Nwaneri effectively removed City from the title equation.
“It is a great day for us, especially with the necessity that we had to win the game. The manner that we have done it, I am really pleased. Overall, we scored some beautiful goals and the team showed a high competitive level,” Arteta said.
He was full of praise for teenager Lewis-Skelly, whose impressive display was capped with his first Arsenal goal.
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s impressive display was capped with his first Arsenal goal.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“You need big individual performances to beat (Man City). Myles was certainly one of them, the maturity he showed and competitiveness as well,” Arteta said.
“He plays with that personality and he’s scored a beautiful goal. He has been pushing us since he has been with us. We like his character and personality. He has so much courage.”
To add to Arsenal’s joy, a 78th-minute goal from Gunners striker Stina Blackstenius gave her side a thrilling 4-3 victory away to City after a ding-dong battle on Feb 2 that revived the Gunners’ slim Women’s Super League title hopes.
Mariona Caldentey and Lotte Wubben-Moy put Arsenal 2-0 up after eight minutes but, 10 minutes into the second half, it was 3-3, thanks to Mary Fowler’s brace and a Vivianne Miedema strike for City and Frida Maanum’s goal for Arsenal.
But Blackstenius then settled the tie at the Joie Stadium. Arsenal are third with 27 points, three points behind Manchester United and 10 behind leaders Chelsea. REUTERS
