'All the teams in the Premier League would have signed Declan Rice!' - Pep Guardiola lifts lid on Man City's failed pursuit of Arsenal ace as two sides prepare for blockbuster clash

The Cityzens bid £90 million ($114.7m) for the midfielder but Arsenal claimed his signature as their £105m ($137m) offer was accepted by West Ham last summer. Now, Guardiola has spoken about how they were unable to recruit the England international, who has been a revelation for the Gunners this season, ahead of their huge clash with Mikel Arteta's men on Easter Sunday.

He told reporters: “Sometimes here we have many players we wanted and they didn’t decide to join us. He's [Rice] not the first one who we wanted who didn't join us. We have a long list. Basically, they don't want to come or the price or whatever, so it could not happen. He made his decision, a good one, and good luck. All the teams in the Premier League would have signed Declan Rice. He's an international captain for the national team of England and a young player playing a lot of games regularly. That's why Arsenal pushed the way they pushed."

Arsenal are the division's form side at present and are top of the Premier League but defeat at the Etihad this weekend would be a huge blow to their title hopes. However, a point or a victory would boost their chances of topping the table come the end of the campaign. And Rice will no doubt play a big part in that bid for silverware.

After this contest between league leaders Arsenal and third-placed City, who are one point behind second-placed Liverpool and the Gunners, Arteta's side host Luton Town on April 3 whereas Guardiola's men entertain Aston Villa on the same date.