Declan Rice reveals what Arsenal players have been saying about Carabao Cup final

Declan Rice has revealed that Arsenal’s upcoming Carabao Cup final against Manchester City has been the talk of the dressing room, with the midfielder believing Sunday’s showdown at Wembley could prove pivotal to the club’s quadruple ambitions.

The Gunners face Pep Guardiola’s side with Mikel Arteta’s team still fighting on all four fronts after securing their Champions League quarter-final spot with Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. Arsenal currently hold a nine-point advantage over City in the Premier League table.

Rice confident ahead of City clash

Speaking to CBS, Rice emphasized the significance of the final and warned City that Arsenal believe they can beat anyone at present.

“Definitely, it could be the start of something. It’s the first trophy that is up for grabs. If you win that, the momentum after that that takes you forward is massive,” Rice said.

The England international highlighted Arsenal’s hunger for silverware, noting this represents the club’s first final since the 2019 Carabao Cup.

“But Sunday is going to be a great game against them, and it comes down to how much you want it. Arsenal are back in a final for maybe the first time since the Carabao Cup final in 2019, I think. So, how do you want it on Sunday? How much do you want to win a trophy for this team and these fans?”

Dressing room buzz building

Rice confirmed that the squad’s excitement is palpable as they prepare for the Wembley showdown.

“The lads are already talking about it in there, we’re excited – we’re ready. At the minute, every game of football we go into, we believe we can win, so we’ll be ready and looking forward to it.”

The midfielder, who scored in Tuesday’s Champions League victory alongside Eberechi Eze, acknowledged the physical and mental demands of competing across four competitions but insisted the squad is ready for the challenge.

“It’s so hard. I’m not just saying that. It’s mentally really, really tough, as hard as it is physically. You have to be really strong, really resilient,” Rice explained.

Arsenal enter the final on an impressive 14-game unbeaten run across all competitions, with Rice crediting the squad’s depth for their ability to maintain standards on multiple fronts.

The north London side have just two months remaining to complete what would be a historic quadruple, with Rice determined to leave a lasting legacy at the Emirates Stadium.