Declan Rice says Arsenal need a special moment to keep their Champions League dream alive as they head to Paris trailing 1-0 after the first leg. Despite the narrow loss at home, Rice remains hopeful that he or one of his teammates can deliver what manager Mikel Arteta calls “a magic moment” to turn the tie around.
In the quarter-finals, Rice scored two stunning free kicks against Real Madrid and played a big part in getting Arsenal this far. But he knows the challenge in Paris will be even tougher, and they’ll need something big to reach the final in Munich.
Reflecting on the first leg, Rice admitted the early goal by PSG caught Arsenal off guard, but felt they grew into the game and created plenty of chances. He believes that if the team stays positive and focused, they can pull off something memorable.
Arsenal have received a boost ahead of the game, with Thomas Partey back from suspension and defender Riccardo Calafiori fit again. Rice praised Partey’s calmness and said playing alongside him makes his own game better. Still, he made it clear that everyone on the pitch will have to give everything if they want to reach the final.
Arteta also remains upbeat. With just one win standing between Arsenal and the final, he said it’s time for the team to “do the talking on the pitch” and seize the opportunity.
Now all eyes are on the Parc des Princes to see whether Arsenal can rise to the moment and deliver something truly special on one of the biggest nights in the club’s modern history.
