Declan Rice has now sent a message to Manchester City that will certainly excite Arsenal supporters ahead of next season.
Arsenal ran Manchester City close in the Premier League this season, keeping their title challenge alive until the last game of the campaign.
However, Pep Guardiola’s side were ultimately able to hold off the Gunners’ challenge and claim their fourth successive title triumph.
The North London club have made fantastic progress under Mikel Arteta. Arsenal made history this season as they recorded more Premier League victories in a single campaign than they have ever managed before.
However, Arteta has vowed to Arsenal supporters that more is yet to come. In order to deliver on that promise, though, he will need to improve his squad again over the course of the upcoming summer transfer window, as Manchester City and other top flight rivals will surely take forward strides themselves.
Declan Rice declares Arsenal ambition amid Manchester City challenge
The aim for next season must be to surpass Manchester City. Whilst Arsenal can’t afford to take another title challenge for granted, they are certainly well-placed to mount another charge for the prize.
Declan Rice is confident that the Gunners have what it takes to realise this ambition. Speaking to ITV, the former West Ham United midfielder said: “Even though they lost the final, for me they’re probably still the best team in the world. They’re the team everyone wants to be…we’re now trying to become that.
“I’m sure we are on the right path. I’m sure the City players know as well that we’re a team that are on the up and we want to take over.”
What Arsenal must now do to maintain progress under Mikel Arteta
This Arsenal side have now reached a stage where they need to deliver on their potential. The bulk of the squad is made up of players now entering what ought to be their peak years. They have shown that they can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Manchester City, but now they must prove that they have what it takes to get over the line. They need to demonstrate that they can get their hands on some silverware.
Arsenal fans will also be heartened to hear that Rice remains positive and optimistic, as the disappointment of missing out on the Premier League title this time around by such a narrow margin could easily have negatively impacted squad morale at the Emirates Stadium.