Declan Rice: Perfect time for Arsenal to respond in North London derby

After a frustrating 2-2 draw at Wolves, where Arsenal squandered a two-goal lead, Rice admitted the result was a major setback, leading the squad to have "honest and firm" discussions.

Rice highlighted a constant reminder from teammate Bukayo Saka regarding the fixture's significance.

“I remember Saka saying: ‘You can’t lose derbies here to Spurs. This is the perfect game to respond,’” Rice told Sun Sport. “For the fan base, everyone, the players, the staff—that’s the game you can’t lose.”

The 27-year-old stressed that Arsenal's mentality remains resilient despite recent slip-ups. He emphasised that the squad is fully aware that they must earn the right to stay at the top.

“We’re not going to be handed it; we need to go and win it, we need to deserve it,” he declared.

Rice also opened up about the team's reaction to the Wolves' disappointment.

“We spoke to each other after Wolves, we knew we’d let ourselves and the fans down after being in such a good position.

"Letting it slip is NOT the standards that we have set ourselves this season. We had a team meeting and we are ready to go again,” he explained to Sun Sport.

The title is now officially in Manchester City's hands, but Pep Guardiola's men must win their last 12 games to be crowned champions, a feat they have managed in the past.

However, the way this season has gone suggests there will be more twists and turns, and both teams must focus on themselves as the title race hits the home stretch.

A strong performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could restore momentum and send a clear message that Arsenal are far from conceding the fight.