Declan Rice has hit back at claims that Arsenal have a mental block when it comes to winning trophies, as the team prepares for a decisive Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. The midfielder firmly dismissed suggestions that the team suffers from a psychological barrier in high-stakes matches and insisted they are ready to overturn their one-goal deficit from the first leg.
Arsenal lost the first leg 1-0 at home, with an early strike from Ousmane Dembélé giving PSG the advantage. However, Rice expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to respond, pointing to previous away victories against PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid in the knockout rounds. He also referenced Arsenal’s 2-0 win over PSG in the group stage as further evidence of what they are capable of achieving.
“It was the same team apart from Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia. Everyone else started and we beat them. So there’s no fear,” said Rice. He acknowledged that conceding early at the Emirates had an unsettling effect on the team and the crowd, but was quick to highlight Arsenal’s resilience and the chances they created during the rest of the match. “The goalkeeper made some amazing saves. We fully believed that we could beat them. Obviously it wasn’t meant to be, but we’ve seen enough and we know enough as a team that we can do something really, really good.”
Rice, who has emerged as one of Arsenal’s key performers in Europe this season, is currently joint-second top scorer for the club in the Champions League with four goals, including two spectacular free-kicks against Real Madrid. With Thomas Partey returning from suspension, Rice is expected to move into a more advanced role in midfield for the return leg. Jurriën Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are also expected to be available, giving Arsenal a timely boost in both defence and midfield.
Luis Enrique has confirmed that Dembélé will feature in the second leg, having recovered from a hamstring issue that forced him off in the first match. Despite PSG’s lead, Rice believes Arsenal have the quality and mentality to rise to the occasion.
“You need to have full belief. We certainly have that as a group,” he said. “The manager drills that into us every single day. If we’re the best versions of ourselves tomorrow night and we know we can be there’s no stopping us getting into that final. We need to be positive. You can’t come into a semi-final away in Paris and not have that belief and courage that you’re going to come here and win the game.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who has guided the team to consistent league performances but has just one FA Cup to show for his tenure so far, echoed the sentiment that this could be a defining moment for the club. He pointed out the fine margins that often determine success, citing past league campaigns where Arsenal’s points tally would have been enough to win the title in other seasons.
“Winning trophies is about being in the right moment, in the right place,” Arteta said. “Hopefully we are in the right moment, in the right place in Paris tomorrow to earn the right to be in that final.”
Arsenal now face a defining night in their European campaign. With belief surging through the squad and key players returning at just the right time, they will aim to produce a performance that proves their doubters wrong and secures a place in the Champions League final.
