Topics: Arsenal, Champions League, Declan Rice, PSG, Football, Mikel Arteta
Arsenal fans were left stunned by what Declan Rice said after the Gunners crashed out of the Champions League with a 2-1 defeat (3-1 on aggregate) against PSG on Wednesday, May 7.
Arsenal came into the Champions League semi-final second leg trailing PSG by one goal following last week’s first leg at the Emirates.
It was always going to be a tough ask to overturn the deficit, and the task was made even more difficult when Fabian Ruiz smashed a left-footed half volley past David Raya on 27 minutes.
Raya, 29, offered the Gunners a glimmer of hope by saving Vitinha’s second-half penalty, but any positivity quickly vanished when Achraf Hakimi netted a curled effort on 72 minutes, putting the result beyond any doubt before Bukayo Saka scored a consolation goal for Arsenal with 14 minutes to play.
Advert
The French champions will face Inter in Munich in the final of the competition on May 31.
"We were very close, much closer than the result showed, but unfortunately, we are out," said Mikel Arteta after the game.
"I am very proud of the players, 100%. I don't think there's been a better team [than Arsenal] in the competition from what I have seen, but we are out.
"This competition is about the boxes, and in both boxes are the strikers and the goalkeepers, and theirs was the best in both games."
Speaking to TNT Sports shortly after his side’s defeat, Rice, 26, gave his take on his side’s performance.
“It's tough,” Rice admitted. “We've done the whole season without five or six of our best players, so to do what we've done is unbelievable. We've given it everything, the whole squad, everyone flying with us, and everyone believed. You could see that we believed it.
"On another night, we maybe score two or three, that first 20 minutes where they score and we don't take our chances is a kick in the teeth. We'll be back, three games left, it's been a long season, but we keep pushing because we want to win and do the best we can."
However, some fans called him out and accused him of making excuses.
One said: "This is wild. Absolutely wild. They have created a narrative that simply doesn't match reality."
Another added: "Aren't they only missing Gabriel and Havertz from their best starting 11, or am I missing something?"
While a third commented: "I like it. Using excuses rather than looking at themselves, means that they'll never get over the hump."
