Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice says the Gunners are confident of overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in their Champions League semi-final return leg in Paris.
“We’re here to win the game. We’re here to make a statement. We want to get to the final,” Rice said during the pre-match press conference at the Parc des Princes. “We need to have big balls and show that we’re ready to play at this level.”
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PSG lead the tie thanks to Ousmane Dembele’s early goal in the first leg at the Emirates, but Rice and manager Mikel Arteta believe Arsenal can bounce back against a side that has already knocked out Liverpool and Aston Villa this season.
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“I think if we are the best versions of ourselves tomorrow night and we know we can be, there is no stopping us from getting into that final,” Rice said.
The England international reflected on Arsenal’s commanding quarter-final victory over Real Madrid, where he played a starring role. “We proved we can handle big situations. Tomorrow night is another massive step for this team.”
Arteta, a former PSG player, echoed the optimism: “We are a win away from being in the Champions League final, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, against a great opponent. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Arsenal must win on the night to secure a spot in their first Champions League final since 2006, with a place in Munich later this month at stake.
