Declan Rice insists that Arsenal still has a lot to play for Saturday's trip to Everton, even with their Premier League title that it is almost over.
Arsenal remains 12 points behind Liverpool in the table after the midweek luminaires.
After goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka-Die after 101 days from the injury, Arsenal returned to a 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday, Liverpool responded with a 1-0 derby victory on Everton.
While they seem destined to finish second in the competition for a third consecutive season, the Mikel Arteta team still houses the hope of European glory.
They organize Real Madrid in the first stage of their quarter-final-equal game on Tuesday, and Rice says that maintaining a positive momentum for that match is crucial.
“Until the season is over, as a group, as a team as a fan base, we must completely believe that we can still achieve great things,” Rice told the Arsenal website.
“We can only concentrate on what we can concentrate on and that is winning our remaining games. We also have a great opportunity to create history in terms of the first Arsenal team that cancel the Champions League.
“I think it drives us in itself, it pushes us, the coaches push that question for us, as well as the Premier League.
“We can go in the history books in this club and we have had a great opportunity against Real Madrid, one of the best teams in the world. So, yes, these are exciting times.
“It has been difficult this year, but there is still a positivity that can come out. So, stay with us, keep believing and I think good things will happen for this club.”
Another winning evening in N5
Enjoy the highlights of our 2-1 victory over Fulham pic.twitter.com/3qkziddhsu
– Arsenal (@ARSENAL) April 1, 2025
Arsenal, however, still suffered an injury short against Fulham, with Centrum-back Gabriel Magalhaes leaning during the first half.
He is now very unlikely against Everton, who was beaten by a Diogo Jota goal in Wednesday's Merseyside Derby in Anfield.
Baas David Moyes chose to stay cheerful after that match and said: “Liverpool was the better team and that is why they are top of the competition, but we showed great resilience.
“We had a great run, the players have done it brilliantly. It is our first defeat in 10 games.”
Players to watch
Everton – Beto
Beto should have demonstrated demonstrably on the score sheet in Liverpool, with one strike not to stand out for a marginal offside call and then to hit the post when it cleans on goal.
Only Virgil van Dijk corresponded to the count of Beto of 16 duels disputed in that match, seven of which were successful.
Arsenal – Bukayo Saka
Saka wasted no time to make an impact after his return of an injury and scored the second goal of Arsenal in their midweek victory on Fulham.
The English star has now scored and helped 10 or more goals in all competitions in each of the last three seasons, and became the first Arsenal player to do this in three straight campaigns since Alexis Sanchez between 2014-15 and 2016-17.
Match forecast – Arsenal Win
After winning four of their five league games against Arsenal between December 2020 and February 2023, Everton is now Winloos in their last four against the Gunners (one draw, three defeats).
The reverse fixture between these parties, played in December, ended 0-0. Since 2011-12, Arsenal has not kept a clean leaf in both meetings with Everton in a competition season, while since 1912-13 they no longer score against the Toffees.
In all competitions, Arsenal has only won three of their last 26 matches on Merseyside against Everton and Liverpool (10 Draws, 13 defeats); They had won six of their previous seven visits before this run.
In the meantime, Everton has only lost two of their last 13 Premier League matches in Goodison Park (four wins, seven draws), who each pulled of their last three.
Liverpool (17 games) are currently on a longer undefeated run away from home in the Premier League than Arsenal (10 games).
Since the beginning of 2024, the Gunners have removed more points in the competition than any other side (52) and have also admitted the least goals on their journeys (16).
Opta wins probability
Everton – 20.8%
Arsenal – 53.2%
Drawing – 26%
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