There are some highly-pressured games around the corner in the Premier League, with Aston Villa and Arsenal expected to be at the heart of it all.
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are pushing for that all-important Champions League spot, whilst Mikel Arteta is trying to end Arsenal’s two-decade wait to become champions of England.
One man who has been crucial to the Arsenal boss has been his club-record signing Declan Rice and he spoke highly of Aston Villa, as he told Sky Sports.
The England midfielder admitted that he ‘hates’ watching the games involving the top teams because of what is riding on it.
With Arsenal playing bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United on Monday night, Declan Rice would have gone through a whole weekend of action hiding behind his sofa because it was nerve-racking.
From Aston Villa’s dramatic win at Luton Town to Liverpool’s controversial three points at Nottingham Forest, it was another weekend of pure drama.
But all these sides are impressing Declan Rice, who was sure to give his flowers to those from Villa Park, by calling them ‘so good’.
Declan Rice on Aston Villa
“I hate watching it now,” said Rice. “I see the results, but I just try to focus on what we are doing. We can’t control what others are doing.
“The league is so strong. Man City are unbelievable. Liverpool are unbelievable. Spurs have been unreal under Ange. Villa under Emery have been so good as well.
“Every game is so tough and you can’t overlook anyone. Anything can happen. I am really relishing going out every week and having to play really well, you have to do that to win games.
“What is there 13 to go? 12 to go? One game ahead. Never look ahead. Everyone has tough fixtures and let’s see what happens.”
Aston Villa’s trip to Arsenal
That famous week in December will live long in the memory of Villa fans because we beat Manchester City and Arsenal back-to-back.
Looking back on that now, those wins are even bigger in the context of what’s happening this season, but we still have to go to the Emirates.
On April 13, we take on Arsenal in a game that is going to have big bearings on both the title race and the race for the top four.
If we manage to get the three points, then it will truly be incredible and another massive sign of why we deserve to be playing against the elite next season.
