Arsenal’s Declan Rice on ‘merciless’ Champions League shoot-out heartbreak towards PSG – ‘It will not outline us’

Arsenal’s “merciless” Champions League ultimate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain is not going to outline them, says Declan Rice.

The Gunners had been searching for their first Champions League title however suffered heartbreak in Budapest as they had been crushed 4-3 on penalties by PSG after a tense 1-1 attract 120 minutes, Eberechi Eze and Gabriel lacking from the spot.

Mikel Arteta’s facet subsequently finish the season with solely the Premier League trophy however Rice insists there may be extra to return on the silverware entrance sooner or later.

Talking to TNT Sports activities, Rice stated: “The feelings and the stakes are so excessive. It is merciless. He [Arteta] spoke about how a lot he loves us as a bunch. How we have given 100 per cent each single recreation with the whole lot that is been thrown at us.

“That is solely the beginning for us. We acquired over the road within the Premier League, this could’ve been one step additional nevertheless it wasn’t to be. We preserve constructing. Since I got here to the membership it was a quarter-final exit, then semi-final and now ultimate. We preserve going and preserve staying constructive. This is not going to outline us.”

Arteta: Arsenal should use defeat as gas to succeed in subsequent stage

Arteta reiterated that he was pleased with his squad however emphasised the significance of feeling the ache of shedding in Budapest.

He stated: “To start with it’s important to undergo that ache, digest it and switch it into gas to enhance and attain a special stage.

“I need to congratulate PSG as a result of in my view they’re the very best staff on the earth. What they can do with the ball, with particular person actions, credit score to their gamers.

“I am so pleased with them. That we have now, beneath the circumstances that we all know internally what we have been by.

“To handle this group of gamers, the best way they carry this badge. We acquired to the massive one and we missed on the most important one.

“We have not performed it for 22 years [win the league] and it’s only the second time in our historical past [we have reached the final].

“We have to recognise the season that we had. No person goes to take the ache away from you.

“I believe it’s important to undergo the motions. If you’re in ache, undergo the ache. In case you have performed one thing mistaken, it’s important to be taught from it.”

Rice: We had the same penalty towards Leverkusen

The one second Arsenal followers might look again on with disappointment was the choice to not award a penalty in extra-time when Noni Madueke went down within the space beneath a problem by Nuno Mendes.

Rice and Arteta each had their say on the incident at full-time after being booked for his or her remonstrations.

“I’ve not seen it again but, however on the time on the pitch I believed Noni was forward of him,” stated Rice.

“Wanting again on the one we acquired towards Bayer Leverkusen, it was very comparable.

“I am not going get into it now. On the time I used to be devastated. In opposition to PSG, it’s important to be mentally on it. I believed as the sport went on we grew into it and created a variety of probabilities.

“PSG have misplaced masses through the years and now they’re having their time. I believe that is going to maintain occurring with us. We’re having our small losses however we’re going to go on and preserve pushing.”

Arteta stated: “I watched it again and it will possibly simply be a penalty. Principally we see the penalties they’ve given within the competitors this season. The referee’s made that call however he made a special one with Mosquera. That is an necessary one.”

What’s subsequent?

Already excited about the 2026/27 Premier League season?

There is a World Cup to slot in first – observe dwell blogs of each recreation on the Sky Sports activities App – however the key dates are locked in for subsequent time period, when Sky Sports activities will as soon as once more present at the least 215 dwell Premier League video games.

Here is your summer season diary:

June 11: World Cup begins – day-by-day fixture listing
June 14: Scotland’s opener vs Haiti (2am)
June 15: Summer season switch window opens
June 17: England’s opener vs Croatia (9pm)
June 19: Premier League fixtures launched (10am)
July 19: World Cup ultimate
August 22-23: Premier League opening weekend
August 27: Champions League league section draw
September 1: Switch Deadline Day (window closes at 11pm UK time)
September 8-10: Champions League matchday 1
Might 30, 2027: Premier League ultimate day