Rice says Arsenal deserve to be Premier League champions

Declan Rice believes Arsenal have shown they deserve to be Premier League champions, but he has warned the Gunners they may still need one more push.

Kai Havertz's first-half header proved enough to secure a nervy 1-0 win over already-relegated Burnley on Monday – Arsenal's eighth victory by that scoreline in 2025-26.

They will now be crowned champions for the first time since 2004 if Manchester City fail to beat Bournemouth on Tuesday.

And even if City are successful on the south coast, a win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday would make Mikel Arteta's team champions.

The Opta supercomputer assigns Arsenal an 85.6% chance of winning the title, and the post-match celebrations at the Emirates Stadium suggested many of their fans think they have one hand on the trophy.

But when that was put to Rice by BBC Sport, he replied: "Don't say it like that – Jesus! I know how football works. 

"There is a game on tomorrow, anything can happen in that one. We can't get ahead of ourselves. I've played in the Premier League for too long to know that things can happen. 

"The only thing we can control is ourselves, going out there on Sunday and winning that match. That is all we want. We know is at stake for this club.

"I think we deserve to be champions, 100% speaking honestly. This season has been our season, but Man City have been incredible and under Pep [Guardiola] you can never rule them out, the ruthlessness of them. 

"But we have put ourselves in a really good position and all I have been saying is that we have to keep going.

"There is one more. 38 games nearly completed and at the end you can say you are a champion, but you have to go out there on Sunday and perform because Palace is not going to be easy."

Rice had more touches (100), attempted passes (82) and completed passes (72) than any other player on the pitch, while he also recovered possession seven times and only Bukayo Saka matched his five tackles.

Rice is considered a leading contender for the Premier League's Player of the Season award, but the England international said all the credit for his displays must go to Arteta. 

"That has what this manager has developed me into, someone that can play anywhere in midfield. I know the job that is required," he said. 

"There was a lot of mopping up to do tonight, a lot of second balls in front of the back four, starting attacks, giving the ball to the likes of Martin [Odegaard] and Eberechi [Eze]. 

"Whatever the manager wants from me, I will always give 100%. Whatever the role is, however I can adapt and make this team better, I'll try my best."

Monday was the 556th time Arsenal have ended a day top of the Premier League table in the last four seasons, which is over 200 more days than any other team.

And across Europe's top five leagues this season, Arsenal have allowed their opponents the fewest shots (8.1), shots on target (2.4) and expected goals (0.74 xG) per game.