After today’s 4-0 win over Leeds United, Declan Rice chatted to Sky Sports Soccer Saturday.
Here’s what the midfielder had to say about a much-needed three points that gets Arsenal’s title quest back on track.
On the performance being as important as the win…
Most definitely. Off the back of the last three performances, we knew how big it was, especially coming here to Leeds, Elland Road and knowing how their fans are, how they’ve been set up recently, so to come here and win 4-0 was a massive win for us.
On how the team felt going into the game…
We are all old enough, and we’ve all played enough games to realise the last three games we’ve had a bit of a blip. We knew today, we had to go out there and win the game and get three points. There are 15 games left in the Premier League, and if you want to stay top, you need to keep winning. It was a massive result from everyone today, a great performance.
On wanting Sp*rs to win tomorrow against City…
Yeah, look, it’s obviously a massive game, but we’re in tomorrow [at London Colney], we’re training because we’ve got a semi-final on Tuesday. If I can watch it, I will, if I can’t I’m not too bothered. We’ve got to control what we can control and keep winning games. There’s not long left to go, every game is a cup final, we have to have this mentality now towards the end, we’ve got to keep pushing. What will be, will be.
On dealing with the pressure and noise in the coming months…
The boys, we look at it, and we have a bit of perspective. So far, we’re top in the Premier League, we won eight out of eight in the Champions League, we won the first game of the [Carabao Cup] semi-final, and we’re in the next round of the cup. So, we can’t complain about where we are, if you’d asked any Arsenal fan about where we’d be at this stage of the season, someone would have bit your hand off. We’re in a really strong position, we know as players we have a really good squad, and it’s about utilising that and realising that every game is a cup final. If you want to be a winner, if you want to give everything, you’ve got to win these games. We have a long four months ahead, but ones we’re prepared for, and if you want to win with Arsenal and leave a legacy, this is your chance to do it in the next four months.
On making 300 Premier League performances…
It’s been a long journey, it’s gone so fast, luckily I’ve been really consistent, and stay injury free, touch wood. I’ve been able to keep going and play loads of games, my mentality to try and keep getting better and want to win has been really good. Hopefully, I can keep going, I’m only 27, a long way to go, but let’s keep racking them up, I’m really happy.