DECLAN RICE was spotted mouthing four words of defiance after Arsenal’s loss at Manchester City.
The Gunners suffered a major blow at the Etihad as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat.
Erling Haaland‘s winning goal has fired City to within three points of the North London side with a game in hand – they could go top on Wednesday night if they beat Burnley.
Pep Guardiola‘s side has the momentum, with many believing that it is now their Premier League title to lose.
Arsenal will have to match City’s results in the final run-in and overtake their goal difference if needed.
Rice, 27, looked defiant after the full-time whistle as he could be seen mouthing a sentence to captain Martin Odegaard.
The midfielder appeared to say “It’s not over yet” multiple times.
The former West Ham captain was hailed by fans for his leadership on social media.
One posted: “My captain.”
A second wrote: “He’s absolutely right.”
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A third commented: “He’s not wrong, they’re still 3 points ahead.”
A fourth said: “Give him the armband back for the rest of the season.”
Another added: “A leader mentality.”
Arsenal will have control over the title race again should City slip up on Wednesday evening.
They take on relegation-threatened Burnley at Turf Moor, and anything other than a win would see the Gunners retake control.
The Clarets were hammered 5-1 at the Etihad in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
City are in sparkling form, having won their last four games in all competitions.
This run includes wins over Arsenal – one in the League Cup final and one in the league – a win over Liverpool in the FA Cup and a victory over Chelsea.
Arsenal’s charge to the title has derailed in recent weeks as they have lost their last two league games.
The Gunners also scraped past Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League to reach the semi-finals.
They have also been dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship outfit Southampton.
Rice’s defiant words were echoed by Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney on Match of the Day.
He said: “This title race is not over yet, I still feel like there are some more twists and turns to come.
“It is is obviously going to be tight but City have got one more game to try to win, so I still have Arsenal down as slight favourites.
“I’ve been in this situation myself, where you need to win all your games for the title.
“You look at your games and you think well we should win this one, or that one, but it never pans out that way.
“From now until the end of the season it is just going to be down to which team keeps their composure the best – that’s who will win it.”
A supercomputer has already been at work predicting who will lift the title come May.
And it is bad news for Arsenal as they are expected to finish second for a FOURTH year in a row.
