Declan Rice: Arsenal need 'big balls' to beat PSG and reach Champions League final

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·6 May 2025

Declan Rice: Arsenal need 'big balls' to beat PSG and reach Champions League final

The Gunners must overturn a first-leg deficit to reach the biggest European stage of them all

Declan Rice says Arsenal will need “magic moments” and “big balls” to stage a famous European comeback on Wednesday night - but warned Paris Saint-Germain: “If we’re at our best, there’s no stopping us.”

The Gunners are in Paris seeking to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit and reach only the second Champions League final in their history.

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Arsenal have never won a European tie having lost the first leg at home and will need a special performance at Parc des Princes against a PSG side who have been arguably the continent’s best team since the turn of the year.

The visitors were particularly dominant in the first half-hour of the first leg in north London, but while Rice admitted his side were “spooked” by Ousmane Dembele’s early goal, the midfielder says Arsenal can take heart from the way they grew into the game.

Hopefully it’s me again, but you’re going to need a moment of magic to win a gameDeclan Rice

“Once we worked out how we could beat them, obviously we missed a few chances, but in terms of how we were driving with the ball, giving our wingers one-vs-one opportunities, chances started to open up,” Rice said.

“I think tomorrow night we need to do the same. We need to have big balls and we need to go out there on the biggest stage and show that we’re ready to play at this level.”

Rice has been at the centre of one of Arsenal’s greatest European nights already this season, with his two free-kicks in the quarter-final win over Real Madrid immediately going down in club folklore.

Speaking on Wednesday night in Paris, the Englishman revealed that Mikel Arteta has told his players that similar moments of individual brilliance will be required if Arsenal are to reach this month’s showpiece in Munich.

“The manager calls them magic moments,” Rice explained. “He always talks about having someone delivering a magic moment.

“In that game against Madrid, obviously I was able to produce two free-kicks, which were incredible. But tomorrow night, a semi-final is set up for someone else to maybe get that magic moment.

“Hopefully it’s me again, but you’re going to need a moment of magic to win a game. Tomorrow night, hopefully we can deliver something special.”

To advance without the need for extra-time or penalties, Arsenal must repeat their feat of the group stage by beating PSG by two clear goals.

Luis Enrique’s side have improved no end since losing 2-0 at the Emirates in October, a game for which Dembele was dropped, but Rice remains adamant that, in peak form, the Gunners have enough to get the job done.

“You need to have full belief,” Rice said. “We certainly have that as a group. The manager drills that into us every single day. I think if we’re the best versions of ourselves tomorrow night, we know we can be that. There’s no stopping us getting into that final.

“We really need to be positive. You can’t come into a semi-final away at Paris and not have that belief and courage that you’re going to come here and win the game.”