Arsenal's Declan Rice is confident that his team is ready to overcome the disappointment of their Carabao Cup final defeat and make a significant statement against Manchester City. The Gunners have secured a second successive Champions League semi-final spot and are now focused on strengthening their bid for a first Premier League title in 22 years. Rice, who has been recovering from an illness, played the full game against Sporting Lisbon and has allayed fears about his fitness ahead of the match against City. He believes that the game will be the "ultimate test" for Arsenal, but is eager to take on the challenge and prove his team's worth.
Rice has also been praised for his leadership, with former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira describing him as the "engine of the team" and Gary Neville expecting him to have a big impact against City. However, Roy Keane has expressed doubts about Rice's ability to challenge his teammates and make a significant difference in the game.