Declan Rice was as relieved as any other Arsenal player as the Gunners got back to winning ways at Elland Road.
Leeds United huffed and puffed but didn’t have enough in the tank to cause Arsenal any trouble.
In the end, four could have been more as Mikel Arteta’s side settled for a good win and crucially, a much-needed clean sheet.
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For midfield man Declan Rice, getting a win on the board in the league was vital as he looks to win a first Premier League title.
And speaking to the BBC after helping Arsenal to a win in Yorkshire, Rice admitted that things are heating up for the Gunners.
Declan Rice says what Arsenal need to do to win the Premier League title
Of all the players in this Arsenal squad, it’s hard to complain at anything Declan Rice has done this season.
In terms of consistency, he is right up there with the best Arsenal have had.
Now, with a title getting within touching distance, Rice is desperate to keep things going and encouraged his Arsenal teammates to look at just where they are.
“Off the back of the last three performances we knew how big today was. To win 4-0 is a massive win for us,” Rice said.
“We can control what we can control and we have to keep winning games and keep pushing. What will be will be.
“So far we are top in the Premier League and won eight out of eight in the Champions League. We can’t complain about where we are. We are in a really strong position, we know as players we have a really good squad.
“Every game is a cup final. We have a long four months ahead but we are prepared. Let’s keep going and give it a good go.”
It’s time for Declan Rice to go to the next level to help Arsenal
Rice has been excellent ever since signing for Arsenal but with the crunch time of the season now upon us, you have to say he has to go to another level.
Rice does have that other level in him and we’ve seen plenty of times how he has the ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck.
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The time is now for Rice to really embrace things and show he is the best midfielder in the Premier League.
Remarkably, if Arsenal win the title and get close in Europe, we’ll be talking about Rice in terms of a potential Ballon D’or winner.
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