Arsenal will host Tottenham Hotspur in a North London derby at the Emirates Stadium in the 12th round of the 2025/26 Premier League season. England midfielder Declan Rice stated that the team's leaders help his teammates mature and constantly push each other to become better.

So far this Premier League season, Rice has contributed two goals and two assists for Arsenal. Earlier in the World Cup qualifiers, Rice helped England advance to the World Cup finals with an impressive eight-game winning streak and a clean sheet.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, 26, said: "To be honest, I'm probably in the best form of my career right now. It probably took me two or three games to get into the game at the start of the season, but once I found my rhythm, I feel like I'm at a consistent and very high level now."

"This is the state I hope to maintain, to play at a high level every week, and to strive to be one of the best players in the team, as well as to help the team achieve outstanding results."

With goals from Saka and Trossard, Arsenal drew 2-2 with Sunderland in the last round of the Premier League, and currently sits atop the table with 26 points.

Rice continued, "We're in a great position, and if we keep winning, good things will follow. We're a young team, but we have a great mentality, we're focused and calm. I don't see anyone feeling uneasy or concerned about what others think."

“Odegaard is our captain, and he is outstanding, but behind him, there is a group of people who are always there to support him. On match days, they express their opinions and say what needs to be said when necessary, and I think this is part of what our team is growing.”

Rice added, "If there's anything that needs to be said, we'll communicate openly and in a constructive way to help our teammates improve. I think we have more leaders on our team now than ever before, and that's very important to us."

Furthermore, when discussing the upcoming derby, Rice shared, "I've played in four North London derbies, and the team has performed very well. Whenever a derby approaches, the fans and we are all ready. The energy in this kind of game is completely different from other games; it's about knowing you have to give it your all, including every tackle, every header, and every challenge, which generates cheers."

“This was one of the most important games of the season for us, it was about the glory of North London, so it always feels great to beat Tottenham. We have a good record against them in the last few years, and although the game was tough, we won it, so we want to do it again.”