Declan Rice has just sent a warning to Manchester City ahead of their crunch Premier League game on Sunday after explaining why Arsenal lost 2-1 at RC Lens on Tuesday.
The Gunners fell to their first defeat this season with a disappointing night in the Champions League. Mikel Arteta’s men were unbeaten through 10 games to start the campaign. But the Emirates Stadium side cost themselves a perfect record with errors at both ends of the field.
A poor mistake from David Raya gifted RC Lens possession before Adrien Thomasson curled his effort home to equalise. Gabriel Jesus had put Arsenal in front after 14 minutes at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. But the north Londoners did not hold on or reply before Elye Wahi’s winner.
Arsenal ace Declan Rice sends a warning to Manchester City
Attentions at Arsenal now turn back to the Premier League and the visit of Manchester City this Sunday. The Gunners have a chance to go atop the table with a win – should Tottenham Hotspur fail to beat Luton Town – after Wolves’ shock 2-1 win over the Citizens last Saturday.
Manchester City hold a one-point lead over north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham after seven games. But Rice has warned the defending champions that Arteta’s team are only just getting started. He believes Arsenal still have a lot more to show, starting in Sunday’s fixture.
“We’re 10 games into the season [and have] another 50 to go,” Rice noted, via quotes by the Daily Mail. “We’re just warming up and getting into our rhythm. But our full focus turns back to the league and it’s a massive game on Sunday.”
Declan Rice highlights why the Gunners lost against RC Lens
Rice has also explained why Arsenal’s record signing believes Arteta’s squad lost at RC Lens on Tuesday. The midfielder feels the Gunners cost themselves the chance to take a result at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. But he does not take anything anyway from what RC Lens produced.
“We missed some big chances,” Rice admitted. “It’s a great finish for their first goal and the second one, we created with our own problems.
“I thought we totally dominated the match but they are not an easy opponent. We had to be on it but it was just that final bit that was lacking. Credit to them. They defended very well and some of their centre-backs had some amazing performances.”
Arsenal produced 11 shots to RC Lens’ 10 in their Champions League group-stage encounter on Tuesday. But Arteta’s team only produced two big chances and failed to score either, per SofaScore. Jesus scored with a clinical shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
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