Declan Rice has called on Arsenal to welcome the burden of their historical significance as they pursue their first Champions League title ahead of their semi-final clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
The Gunners are set to head to the Spanish capital for the first leg, eager to edge closer to making only their second appearance in a Champions League final.
Mikel Arteta’s team has often been viewed as the nearly men of English football, having finished as runners-up in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons.
They’ve encountered disappointment in Europe as well, losing 3-1 on aggregate to the eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s semi-finals and being eliminated by Bayern Munich in the 2024 quarter-finals.
Arsenal have never clinched the prestigious European competition, with their sole final ending in a defeat to Barcelona in 2006.
The Premier League has become the ultimate goal for the London club following their frustrating near misses in recent years.
However, securing the Champions League for the first time would serve as a significant response to doubters questioning the mental fortitude of Arteta’s squad.
Only seven matches stand between Arsenal and what could be the club’s finest season to date.
They currently sit three points ahead of second-placed Manchester City in the Premier League title race, with four matches left for them and five for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Should Arsenal reach the final against PSG or Bayern in Budapest on May 30, they would have three more games to navigate in the Champions League.
Rice believes it’s crucial for his teammates to demonstrate that past experiences have strengthened their resolve in this historic pursuit.
“We’ve faced tough matches over the past three or four years at the highest level, so we know what to expect and what lies ahead,” the midfielder remarked.
“This has been the theme all season, and we want to carry that into the latter part of the season.”
“As Champions League semi-finalists, we should embrace this opportunity, enjoy it, and be ready for the challenge.”
Havertz and Eze Fitness Concerns
Following two crucial defeats to Manchester City recently—a 2-0 League Cup final loss and a 2-1 Premier League defeat—the question remains if Arsenal can rise to the occasion when it truly counts.
Their narrow 1-0 victory over Newcastle on Saturday didn’t provide overwhelming assurance to sceptics.
Nonetheless, it halted a two-match losing streak in the league and somewhat alleviated concerns after enduring four defeats in their previous six matches across all competitions.
Arsenal are anxiously monitoring the fitness of Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz for their journey to Madrid after both players exited last weekend’s match due to injury.
Eze had just increased his season tally to 10 with a stunning goal against Newcastle.
The England midfielder has been a rare source of attacking dynamism in a side that has largely relied on a robust defensive strategy.
Rice is eager for his international colleague to be available to face Diego Simeone’s side.
“That’s exactly why he was brought in. I mentioned a few weeks back, his ball striking is sensational,” he said.
“What a player, what a person. He will be crucial for us in the coming weeks. We really need him.”
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