Declan Rice: Arsenal ready for 'ultimate test' at Man City in huge PL title race

Declan Rice insists Arsenal are ready to eradicate the hurt from their Carabao Cup final defeat by making a "massive statement"  in what he described as the "ultimate test" against Man City at the Etihad on Sunday.

The Gunners made sure of their second successive last-four spot in the Champions League for the first time in their history with a 0-0 draw against Sporting Lisbon at the Emirates a week after Kai Havertz's stoppage-time opening-leg winner in Portugal and will now face Atletico Madrid for a place in the final.

But first, Arsenal are targeting Premier League victory over Manchester City, live on Sky Sports on Sunday, as they look to strengthen their bid for a first Premier League title in 22 years.

And after defeat to City in the Carabao Cup at Wembley last month, Rice insists his side are ready for the crunch showdown against Pep Guardiola's side.

"It's beautiful," Rice said on Sunday's clash at the Etihad. "I can't wait. It's why we play the game.

"When you're a kid watching games and when you're watching the Premier League as a kid, you see these big matches, these title-defining moments. It comes down to if you're going to be ready and how much do you want it.

"They've obviously been in really good form recently. 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. It's why we're professionals. It's why we play this game and yes, to go there and win will be a massive statement.

"The boys are ready. We spoke as a group and we know what's required. Bring it on."

On the pain of seeing Man City lift the Carabao Cup final and wanting to reverse that result, Rice added: "It hurts losing every final

"We had to show them respect. We shared the pitch for 90 minutes and, ultimately, on the day, they were the better team. It would have been wrong for us to walk inside and not show that respect.

"To see them lift that, it did hurt. There is that fire in the stomach to eradicate that on the weekend.

"With six games to go in the Premier League, we know how big it is. It's the ultimate test, but it's why we play this game. Let's bring it on."

Rice fully fit ahead of City clash

Rice was a big doubt to face Sporting but recovered enough from an illness to play the full game.

The England midfielder, who was named captain for the game, allayed any fears about his fitness ahead of the game against City.

"I'm fully fit," Rice said. Yes, I've been ill the last two days. I've been in bed, not well. To get out against Sporting, obviously, I perked up in the morning enough to be able to play.

"I wasn't at 100 per cent, but to help this team out, no way I was missing a quarter-final to try and get to a semi-final. I was well enough to be able to go out there and play."

"But, yes, it's just a little illness and I'm over it now and on to Sunday."

Mikel Arteta revealed after the game that the players had picked Rice to be captain in the absence of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, who missed the game alongside Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori.

When asked if he sees himself as a big leader for the team, Rice said: "Yes, definitely. We want those players back. We need them back.

"They are three of our biggest and best players and we've missed them a lot this year in big games. But if the game was yesterday, I probably wouldn't have been able to have played or the day before.

"But the fact that I perked up enough to be able to play, I knew myself and in my head that I was ready to go out there and play. That's what it's about, to play for this club under any conditions. I'm happy I've done that tonight and we're through."

Neville: Rice needs to step up against City

Meanwhile, Gary Neville believes Rice will have to have a big impact against City on Sunday if Arsenal are to have success at the Etihad, but Roy Keane is not convinced the 27-yeart-old has that in him.

"I do think Declan Rice is someone… When he went to Arsenal for £100 million, I was gutted. I think he's a Manchester United player," Neville told the Stick to Football podcast.

"He's the player, Harry Kane, Declan Rice, that Manchester United would have always signed back in the day. You don't let Declan Rice go to any other club. He is a player that can win you the league.

"To me, on Sunday, he is the player I am looking at. This is not me putting pressure on him. This is me expecting that this is the Roy Keane moment, the Gerrard moment.

"He's a force on the pitch and he is the one player on the pitch that I think can get a grip of a game from an attacking and a defensive point of view and be the difference maker.

"That's what I would like to see from him on Sunday."

However, Keane responded: "He's a good player but I don't think he gets a grip of people.

"I mean falling out with people and challenging people in the dressing room.

"I want him to challenge people. Against Bournemouth, and there have been other games where things haven't gone right, I don't see him challenging people.

"His performances are fine, but that's not enough."

'Rice continues to be Arsenal's real leader'

Martin Odegaard is still captain in name, but Rice is now undoubtedly Arsenal's leader.

It was epitomised this week as he got out of his sickbed to lead the Gunners to a second straight Champions League semi-final for the first time in their history.

It was clear to see he wasn't 100 per cent and he was far from his best against Sporting, but he never stopped running for the cause, cutting an exhausted figure at full time.

That effort and willingness to push his body to the limit has not been lost on his team-mates either as Arteta revealed the players had voted for Rice to have the captain's armband against Bournemouth and Sporting.

And with Gabriel Magalhaes normally the next in line in the absence of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, Rice's promotion suggestions a firm change in the leadership hierarchy at Arsenal.

There is an argument that Rice does not need the captaincy to show his leadership for the Gunners, but with Odegaard's fitness struggles not appearing to go away, Rice continues to show he would be the ideal replacement should a change of captain comeabout.