Declan Rice explains why Bayern Munich Champions League tie is 'perfect' game for Arsenal

Declan Rice believes a Champions League quarter-final clash with Bayern Munich is the 'perfect' game for Arsenal to overcome defeat to Aston Villa. The Gunners were deservedly beaten 2-0 by Unai Emery's men at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon as Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins scored the goals to boost Villa's top-four hopes.

Arsenal would have returned to the Premier League summit with a win but now sit second, two points behind reigning champions Manchester City. There is no time for Mikel Arteta's players to lick their wounds, however, as they travel to Germany for the second leg of their finely-poised Champions League quarter-final against Bayern.

A 2-2 draw in north London last week leaves the tie on a knife-edge and Rice feels such a big game is just what Arsenal need after a rare slip-up. He said: «It's the perfect game for a reaction. We need a reaction on Wednesday night and it is a great chance to show our character and leadership.

»It's time to go out there and hopefully get into the semi-finals of the Champions League. We have to park this to the side now. It's gone, it's a game of football. We've lost but we need to bounce back, that's for sure."

«Going to the Allianz Arena, it's going to be a special night. It's time to pull our socks up and show everyone why we're in this position.

»We're gutted and disappointed we've lost a massive game but, 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."

Mikel Arteta has serious Arsenal fitness questions after Aston Villa dent league title hopes

Why Mikel Arteta shouted at Oleksandr Zinchenko in damaging Arsenal defeat to