GUNNERS CAN’T DEC EVERYONE

After drawing a blank in Porto, Rice admits: We are not going to smash in five or six goals all the time

DECLAN RICE has warned that Arsenal cannot be expected to blow away every team by “five and six” goals.

But Rice insists that the Gunners remain full of confidence in the title race and will improve in their steep European learning curve.

Arsenal return to Premier League action tomorrow night when they face Newcastle in what has become a crunch game for the titlechasers as they look to turn up the heat on rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.

But after smashing 21 goals in their last five league games, they drew a blank and lost in the Champions League in Porto after failing to register a shot on target.

Rice admitted that even the Arsenal players were bemused in the dressing room as to how they could go from scoring goals for fun to a dismal defeat.

The midfielder (left) said: “Not every game is going to be fives and sixes. You are going to come up against teams who are watching us and seeing what they can do to stop us.

“It is tough to take but we are really positive still, there is a real positivity around the place.

“We are going to keep our heads held high and go again on Saturday and give it everything against Newcastle. Coming into it as a new player, I have seen how many leaders there are in the team that drive it on and want the best for each other.

“That is so good that there is an honest speaking group. If you want to win things and go far, you need that.

“We said some stuff in there, positive stuff, and it’s about Saturday now.

“We have had such a good start to 2024, we take the positives from this game, but also see where we can improve.”

Arsenal will be fired up for Newcastle as, not only do they want to stake their claim in the title race, they also endured a bitter defeat at St James’ Park amid VAR and refereeing controversy over Anthony Gordon’s winning goal.

There was anger flying around afterwards, with club statements and Mikel Arteta’s (right) post-match rant and they will have to get themselves back into the right frame of mind after the trip to Portugal.

But those are the demands on clubs in the Champions League and Rice admits that, for some of the squad, they lack experience on the European stage. This is

Arsenal’s first season back in Europe’s top competition in seven years.

Porto boasted a Champions League winner in veteran Pepe compared to Arsenal’s rookies and that was not lost on Rice.

He said: “Conceding in the last minute is a bit of inexperience. Just having a bit more savviness. If you can’t win, definitely don’t lose – especially in a knockout game. But we are positive.

“It is half-time in a two-leg tie and we will be ready for the next leg.

“You look on the pitch at a load of their players, you look at Pepe especially, with the experience he has in these types of ties. You look at our team, we are such a young group.

“Some of us have not played in the Champions League before this season, so it is about learning on the job. But we have to play better than in Porto.

“I have played in European ties before so there wasn’t any nerves from me. Getting booked early on was a real kick in the teeth, as that can change your mindset.

“But it is good to have nerves if other players had nerves. You get that experience and you need that to play in the biggest games.”