Rice admits Arsenal have gone off the boil after Fulham defeat

Declan Rice admits Arsenal have run out of steam recently after they finished 2023 on a low.

The Gunners lost 2-1 at Fulham on the back of Thursday's disappointing 2-0 defeat to West Ham.

And Rice, 24, fired a warning to his team-mates after they fell to fourth in the Premier League table having led at Christmas.

He told Sky Sports: "Very disappointing, very tough to take, obviously not good enough from us today. 

"The last two results have not been what we've required or been setting over the course of the season. 

"We've been performing well until the last two games, especially off the back of the draw at Liverpool, we felt like we could really kick on. 

"But after the last two defeats, it's a tough one to swallow."

The Gunners were wasteful against Rice's former club and struggled to close out the game today after Bukayo Saka's early opener.

Raul Jimenez levelled after the break and Bobby Decordova-Reid netted a second-half winner in what was a deserved result for the Cottagers.

Rice added: "In the game against West Ham, we had so many shots, so many chances in the opposition area and couldn't put it away.

"Today, when you go 1-0 up you need to take more control, to have more self-belief and desire. 

"The mentality needs to be better, we need to demand more from each other when you're pushing at that end of the table."

Meanwhile, Fulham boss Marco Silva will enjoy tonight's fireworks after a solid display.

He said: "Really the best way to finish 2023, definitely. Our ambition was to finish on a high and react from the last two games.

"I really believe we deserve it. Over the 95 minutes we deserved it more.

"It was very good reaction after the first goal. The way we beat their pressure and began to play our way. We even had more chances to score a third goal.

"We want to improve in this aspect [consistency] of our journey but it is the most difficult as well. The reaction was brilliant."