Arsenal’s Declan Rice ‘brutal’ Champions League shootout against PSG – ‘Can’t explain it’ | Football news
Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat against Paris Saint-Germain is inexplicable, says Declan Rice.
The Gunners were aiming for their first Champions League title but suffered a heartbreaking loss in Budapest as they lost 4-3 on penalties to PSG after a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes, with Eberechi Eze and Gabriel missing.
Mikel Arteta’s side therefore end the season with just the Premier League title but Rice insists there is more silverware to come in the future.
Talking to TNT SportsRice said: “The emotions and the stakes are very high. It’s brutal. He [Arteta] He talked about how much he loves us as a team. How we gave 100 percent every single game and everything that was thrown at us.
“This is only the beginning for us. We crossed the line in the Premier League, this could not have been one step but it was not possible. We continue to build. Since I arrived at the club it was the quarter-final exit, then the semi-final and now the final. We continue and remain positive. This will not define us.”
Rice had to earn a runner-up medal
Arteta: Arsenal must use defeat as fuel to reach next level
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left disappointed following the Champions League final defeat to PSG on penalties
Arteta insisted he was proud of his team but stressed the importance of feeling the pain of losing in Budapest.
He said: “First of all, you have to go through that pain, digest it and turn it into fuel to progress and reach the next level.
“I want to congratulate PSG because in my opinion they are the best team in the world. What they are able to do with football, with the actions of each individual, credit to their players.
“I’m proud of them. What we have, under the circumstances we know inside what we went through.
“Managing this group of players, in the way they manage this badge. We got to the big one and we missed the biggest one of all.
“It’s been 22 years since we did it [win the league] and it is only the second time in our history [we have reached the final].
“We have to see the season we had. No one will take away your pain.
Arteta shows his pain after the defeat
“I think you have to get over it. If you’re in pain, get over it. If you’ve done something wrong, you have to learn from it.”
Rice: We had the same penalty as Leverkusen
One moment Arsenal fans can look back on with disappointment was the decision not to award a penalty in extra time when Noni Madueke went down under a challenge from Nuno Mendes.
Rice and Arteta both had their say on the incident in full after being booked for their complaints.
“I haven’t seen it yet but when I was on the field I thought Noni was ahead of him,” said Rice.
“If we look back at the game we got against Bayer Leverkusen, it was very similar.
“I can’t get into it now. At the time I was frustrated. When we are facing PSG, you have to focus on it mentally. I thought that as the game went on we got more and more and created a lot of chances.
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Gabriel missed Arsenal’s fifth penalty as PSG celebrated back-to-back Champions League wins
“PSG have lost loads in the past years and now they have their time. I think that will continue to happen with us. We have lost a little but we will continue to push.”
Arteta said: “I looked back and it could easily have been a penalty. We actually see the penalties they have given in the competition this season. The referee made that decision but he did it differently against Mosquera. That is important.”
What’s next?
Already thinking about the 2026/27 Premier League season?
There’s the World Cup to attend to first – follow live blogs of every game on the Sky Sports App – but the key dates are locked for next time, when Sky Sports will also show at least 215 live Premier League matches.
Here’s your summer diary:
June 11: World Cup starts – daily match list
June 14: Scotland vs Haiti opener (2am)
June 15: The summer transfer window opens
June 17: England vs Croatia opening match (9pm)
June 19: Premier League fixtures released (10am)
July 19: World Cup final
August 22-23: Premier League opening weekend
August 27: Champions League group stage draw
September 1: Transfer Deadline Date (window closes at 11pm UK time)
September 8-10: Champions League match day 1
May 30, 2027: Last day of the Premier League
