Arsenal star Rice says he is driven by desire to become a ‘great team’ and ‘not just win it once’

Declan Rice says the challenge of becoming a “great team” by winning back-to-back Premier League titles will come down to the mentality of this Arsenal side.

The midfielder was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year after an outstanding previous campaign in which he helped fire the Gunners to the league title.

Team-mates David Raya, Jurrien Timber, Gabriel and William Saliba were also included.

Arsenal are aiming to retain their crown this season and Rice insists they must replicate the intensity and desire that helped them win it last term.

“Exact same as what we did last year, play with the same intensity, same desire,” Rice said.

“This year’s all about mentality for me.

“You want to go back to back, you want to become a great team, not just win it once, you want to go and do it again with all the pressures on, so yeah, bring it on.”

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Rice also paid tribute to his boss Mikel Arteta for the role he has played in his own and Arsenal’s success.

“Incredible, incredible, from the moment I met him for what he’s done for me, done for this club, I can only speak so highly of him, he fully deserves it and yeah, it’s because of him why we won it,” Rice said.

Asked about Arteta’s message to the squad ahead of the new season, Rice said Arsenal know they will have to improve if they are to successfully defend their crown.

“Like what I just said, if we want to become champions again, we’re going to have to do what we did last year and more,” he said.

“Teams don’t want us to win, teams don’t want us to be where we are and we know we’ve got to take that pressure on now and yeah, try and beat everyone that we can.”

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