SOCK IT TO 'ΕΜ

Rice ready to lift himself off the Dec and help Gunners save season

- MIKE WALTERS

DECLAN RICE emerged from the wreckage of Arsenal’s black sabbath and promised they would “pull our socks up” in their Champions League moment of truth.

The Gunners head for Bayern Munich, and another reunion with their old Tottenham nemesis Harry Kane, tomorrow night with their quarter-final deliciously in the balance after last week’s 2-2 draw in the first leg at the Emirates.

On the home front, Arsenal’s title challenge suffered its first misfire of 2024 in Sunday’s shock 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa – and Rice says a “special night” at the Allianz Arena would be the perfect cure.

The £105m midfielder said: “We’re gutted and disappointed we’ve lost a massive game, but now it’s time for a reaction.

“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.