Declan Rice believes Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg tie against Bayern Munich is the perfect way to show their true character following their damaging 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday.
On a day when Manchester City took the lead in the title race and Liverpool lost 1-0 at home to Crystal Palace, Arsenal were defeated 2-0 at Emirates Stadium.
With six games left, City lead the table by two points. And they are now the favorites to win the title for the fourth time in a row.
With the tie hanging at 2-2 after the first leg, Arsenal need to get back up quickly for their Champions League return leg against Bayern.
Following their defeat at the hands of Villa, Mikel Arteta urged his players to “stand up and be counted.” And now, Rice has now called for a perfect reply in Germany.
What Did Rice Say About Arsenal Ahead Of Bayern Clash?
“It’s the perfect game for a reaction,” said Rice as quoted by the Evening Standard. “We need a reaction on Wednesday night and it is a great chance to show our character and leadership.
“We’ve been on such an amazing run since January, won so many football matches, and got ourselves back into an unbelievable position after being written off at Christmas.
“Now that reaction starts in the Champions League against Bayern, so we’ll be ready for that.
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“We have to park this to the side now. It’s gone. We’ve lost but we need to bounce back, that’s for sure.
“It’s a great chance for us to get into a Champions League semi-final. Going to the Allianz Arena, it’s going to be a special night. It’s time to pull our socks up and show everyone why we’re in this position.”
