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Declan Rice says Arsenal will have to beat Manchester City this weekend if they need to win the Premier League name and replace the club’s belief.
Arsenal have won their last two games against City, in the Community Shield and at the Emirates Stadium this season, but have lost their last eight to the Etihad.
Victory for Mikel Arteta’s league leaders would give them a four-point lead over Pep Guardiola’s side as the name race begins for Arsenal, City and Liverpool.
“We were given the pass to the Etihad, which is very difficult, but if you need to get over the barrier of Arsenal being classified as something, we were given the pass there and win,” Rice said.
“We have to show courage and character to show that we can be one of the teams. There’s no doubt that City are the world team at the moment, but we have full confidence as an organisation and as a manager that we can get a result.
Rice has stood out since Arsenal won the signage war last summer, when City also tried to sign the West Ham United midfielder.
Arsenal have beaten City, Liverpool and Manchester United in the league this season, but all matches were played at the Emirates Stadium.
“This season I’ve clearly faced high-pressure conditions in games where, if we hadn’t won, we would have pulled away from the first groups,” Rice said.
“If you push yourself before games, you know in your brain that you have to pass out and do everything you can to win and get 3 points.
“I really enjoy those moments, so we can still get into high-pressure games. This is where you get as much information as possible about yourself and, of course, also as a team.
Arsenal are hoping Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes will be available for the game after injuries forced them out of their foreign service in the past two weeks.
Saka is recovering from a muscle injury. Gabriel has an Achilles tendon and Martinelli is still recovering from a cut to his foot that forced him to retire against Sheffield United earlier this month.
City are also suffering injuries ahead of the game, with Kyle Walker and John Stones suffering physical problems while on duty in England. Defender Manuel Akanji is also questionable.
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