Declan Rice sends honest Arsenal title race message after Aston Villa collapse

Arsenal midifelder Declan Rice has said that the team have to keep believing after suffering a blow in their hopes of chasing down Liverpool for the Premier League title at the end of the season.

The Gunners watched on on Saturday afternoon as Liverpool scored two stoppage time goals against Brentford to take all three points. Arsenal were in action just a couple of hours later as they hosted Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.

Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz saw Mikel Arteta’s side take a 2-0 lead, as they looked on course for all three points. But they were pegged back thanks to second half goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins.

Arsenal did think that they had retaken the lead with just three minutes left to play through Havertz. But VAR intervene with replays showing that the ball had come off his arm, meaning that the goal was disallowed.

The game ended in a 2-2 draw with the Gunners having to settle for a point. The results mean that the gap to Liverpool now stands at six points with Arne Slot’s side having a game in hand.

Despite the disappointment of the two points dropped, Rice has called on the club to maintain belief that the gap can be closed between now and the end of the season.

Sharing a picture of himself during the game on his Instagram story, he wrote: “So unlucky yesterday but time to stay positive & keep believing. Appreciate all of the love.” Along with a red heart and fingers crossed emoji.

He also shared a second picture of him with his arms around academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly. The 18-year-old continues to impress, with England boss Thomas Tuchel watching the game from the stands ahead of naming his first squad.

Arsenal are next back in Premier League action on Saturday (3pm) when they take on struggling Wolves at Molineux. Before that, they host Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League on Wednesday night (8pm kick-off).

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