Arsenal are still sitting top of the Premier League table after their 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday at the Emirates.
Fans would have been very dejected to see Manchester City thrash Wolves 5-1 hours later to keep the title in their hands, but the pressure is still on.
It was a dominant opening half from Arsenal, with Bukayo Saka scoring a controversial penalty just before half-time, before Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice also added their names to the scoresheet in the second period.
Two Premier League games remain before Mikel Arteta learns the true destiny of his team, but it seems as though he will need a favour from others if they are to become champions of England.
Whatever happens, from back to front, this Arsenal side has been outstanding, and if the title does go to the Etihad, then it will be by the smallest of margins.
There is no doubt that there has been an improvement from the previous campaign and the squad has learnt from that collapse.
One man who has helped the club add another layer of quality to their play is Rice following his club-record transfer from West Ham United.
Ian Wright made it clear that the 25-year-old is the ‘difference-maker’ and the one doing it all in the middle of the park as he proved against Bournemouth, as he told Match of the Day.
Last season there were debates as to who is better – Rice or Thomas Partey. Well, the Englishman is answering those questions now.
Declan Rice scores again for Arsenal
“He is the difference for us, in respect of being able to play any of those positions in the midfield,” said Wright. “He will find himself in any situation and he will be able to deal with this.
“This is his touch map (against Bournemouth). He was all over the place. People were talking about can he play in a possession-based system. Of course, he can. Will he score enough goals? Now, we are seeing that, especially with someone like Thomas Partey behind him, it releases him – When you see this, where Kai Havertz is (running out towards the edge of the penalty area). You need somebody attacking the box because that’s one of the big problems for Arsenal, with Declan playing where he is in that eight, to get into the box, he is getting in there and trying to get his goals.
“This is what he is absolutely fantastic at (winning the ball back). He will see that, sniff that out and then make another chance – unbelievable (running with the ball). This is what he is fantastic at. This is proper box-to-box play from him. You see where he is (in his own defensive third) and where the ball is being built up and now he is on his way. Arsenal are stretching them, and Declan is taking his time getting involved. Is anyone going to go with him? He is easing himself up, and then here he goes. A big space, he attacks. Once he gets in there, that’s a quality pass (for Trossard’s goal). Back to goal and then just flicking it – what Arsenal are doing is a lot down to this man. He has been unbelievable for Arsenal this season.”
Declan Rice’s numbers
One of the areas people used to bash Rice with is his supposed lack of numbers and how he doesn’t contribute enough in the final third.
Given that he was playing in a defensive-minded system and much deeper at West Ham. He wasn’t going to get anywhere near double figures.
But put him in a system that attacks, attacks and attacks, then watch him change.
That’s where Arteta and Arsenal come into the picture because they are now getting the attacking side out of Rice’s game.
With two Premier League games remaining, he has seven goals and nine assists – by far his best campaign in English football so far and also beating the four goals and two assists he got last term.