After Manchester City dropped points at Everton, the Premier League title race is now in Arsenal’s hands.
It is only two weeks since Arsenal suffered back-to-back defeats in the league, but after finding a way past Atletico as well as having a five-point lead at the top of the table, momentum is fully behind them.
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“Where this club has come from over the last few years – things that hurt you as a player,” said Rice, alluding to Arsenal’s three successive second-placed finishes in the league.
“The manager has taken full control. We have kept building – we have kept pushing each other.
“This competition and the Premier League. We have gone full throttle. We have found ourselves in a good position with less than a month to go. Sunday now is a massive one.”
Arteta made the big call to keep 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield for just his second start in that position for the senior side, in a campaign during which minutes have been hard to come by for the youngster.
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Striker Viktor Gyokeres, who scored twice at the weekend, also played a massive part in Bukayo Saka’s winning goal and his performance was one of the best since he has been at the club.
Rice, who has been one of Arsenal’s standout players this season and was awarded the player of the match honour against Atletico, believes the Gunners have now “turned a corner” and are back to their best.
“We went through a stage where we weren’t performing at our best. We were a bit sloppy in our play, but we have found a new way to play again,” he said.
“When you have got confidence in football it is everything. I know everyone is focused.”
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