Declan Rice has revealed that Mikel Arteta challenged him to raise his standards at Arsenal, with the midfielder responding in style by delivering the decisive assist in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.
Rice produced a crucial contribution when his fifth Premier League assist of the season set up Kai Havertz for the winning goal, handing Arsenal a massive three points in their pursuit of another league title.
The result sent the Gunners to the top of the Premier League table, strengthening their position after an impressive start to the campaign. But behind Rice’s growing influence is a personal challenge from Arteta, who believes the England international still has another level to reach.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the victory, Rice disclosed that his manager had been direct about his expectations.
“I think the manager had a really honest conversation with me at the start of the season and still thinks I can do more in this shirt and for this club,” Rice said.
The midfielder admitted he has been feeling good this season and explained how his understanding with Havertz helped produce the winning moment. Their discussions before the match focused on attacking overlaps and making aggressive runs into the penalty area.
“This season so far I’ve been feeling really good. We spoke about overlaps before this game and I spoke to Havertz about attacking the box with real aggression and he was there. He nearly could have had another one with the same action. I’m so happy for him because he deserves that goal and ultimately to win 1-0.”
Arsenal’s victory took their league record to eight wins and one defeat from nine matches. However, Rice refused to get carried away by the early position in the title race, insisting that the real assessment should come much later in the season.
Asked whether the result represented a major moment in the title battle, he responded:
“No. I’ve learned that the table you can only take it seriously in February, March. If you’re there, or thereabouts, then you are in with a shout. Anything between now and then, you just have to win as many as you can.”
The 1-0 result was also a significant defensive statement. Liverpool failed to register a single shot on target in a Premier League home match for the first time, as Arsenal stood firm against sustained pressure.
Rice acknowledged the difficulty of playing at Anfield, describing Liverpool’s attacking intensity as a relentless examination of his team’s concentration and organisation.
“It’s demanding,” Rice said of playing at Liverpool. “That’s the Anfield way. That’s what this Liverpool team can do. This is what this stadium does to you. It just creates waves and waves after attack and you have to sustain it, especially with the attack that they’ve got, the quality that they have. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
“We’ve not won here in 14 years. We got off to a very good start. We could have probably managed the game better but it was relentless attacks. We could have probably done a bit more as well in front of goal but in the end that defensive line, the way we stick together, that togetherness we have it’s undefeated. It’s nothing I’ve ever seen before.”
Havertz was equally delighted, recognising the significance of ending Arsenal’s long wait for a league victory at Anfield. The German forward said the result was something the club and its supporters deserved.
“I think it means a lot to the football club,” the German forward said. “It’s been 14 years. That’s what [Arsenal fans] deserve and I think we’re all happy that we gave it to them.
“We all know what this stadium is about, what the fans are about. They have big players, top players and I think they can show their quality. We knew that this was coming for us in this game and we all stuck together, we defended together.”
The Arsenal goalscorer also made sure Rice received his share of the recognition, insisting the midfielder’s delivery did most of the work in creating the winner.
“Ninety percent of the goal belongs to this man. We all know his right foot. Today he was there, brilliant overlap and perfect cross. For me it was an easy tap in. That goal definitely belongs to him.”
With Arsenal now leading the Premier League, Rice’s influence continues to grow. Yet his comments suggest Arteta’s challenge remains central to his ambitions, with the midfielder determined to keep improving rather than settle for what he has already achieved.
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