Declan Rice issues a stern warning, making PSG wary.

On the eve of the UEFA Champions League final with Paris Saint-Germain, Rice declares Arsenal are prepared to reach the pinnacle of European football, confident that the Gunners will create history in Budapest.

Declan Rice has become a name drawing special attention ahead of the match the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. In his latest comments, the English midfielder sent a confident message, insisting that the Gunners are ready to make history in Budapest 2026.

“What a tremendous opportunity”, Rice emphasised when speaking about his first Champions League final. For the England star, this is not just a match; it is the dream every player has pursued since childhood.

He admits the overwhelming emotion after Arsenal secured their final berth is something he will never forget: “When you’re young, you grow up with Champions League nights – group stages, knockout rounds, the final. Then you realise you’re on the brink of the final, you look at the clock – five minutes left, two minutes left – and finally you hear the final whistle. All the emotions surge – relief, pure happiness, intense feelings.”

Nevertheless, Rice stresses that the Emirates side do not want to stop at just “reaching the final.” The Gunners’ ultimate objective is to defeat PSG and win the Champions League for the first time in their history. After several seasons of steady progress under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal now have the chance to cap off the club’s greatest season.

Notably, the 27-year-old believes that losing to the very same Parisian club in last season’s semi‑final has made the North London side far more mature. In his view, the Gunners have learned valuable lessons, especially about taking chances in big matches.

“PSG are a really strong team. We faced them over two legs last year. The tie could have gone either way, so now the stronger side will win. What did we learn from last season’s semi‑final defeat? That you have to take your opportunities, because we had plenty of them. Even though we couldn’t win, those moments prepare you for the matches ahead. We’ll be ready”, Rice affirmed.

The English midfielder also describes himself as a player for the big occasions. According to him, on stages like the Champions League, stars must know how to step up and make a difference at the right moment: “I’d say I’m a good player in big games. When you compete in the biggest tournaments, you need your players to perform at every moment – and not just me. I think our team has done that in the big matches over the last few years – we’ve performed well, especially in the Champions League. There are a few of us with that quality, and we’ll need it when we enter the final.”

Alongside his confidence, Rice also had plenty of praise for his Spanish boss. The 1999‑born player believes Arteta has helped him develop far more comprehensively since joining Arsenal. From a defensively minded midfielder, Rice can now contribute to attack, control the tempo, and have an impact all over the pitch. Notably, the English star revealed that the Spanish coach once called him the “lighthouse” of the Emirates side – an image symbolising stability and the ability to lead the team during tough moments.

Ahead of Arsenal lies a massive challenge: “les Parisiens”, the reigning European champions with a galaxy of world‑class stars. Nevertheless, Rice insists the Gunners will enter the match with absolute belief that they can win: “You need to perform at your best to beat PSG. You need abundant energy from the first whistle, knowing that you will win this final. This is the biggest competition in football.”

With everything he has shown, Declan Rice is not only a midfield leader but has also become a symbol of Arsenal’s ambition to conquer the Champions League. In Budapest, he stands before the greatest chance to turn that dream into reality.