Declan Rice has been speaking in the aftermath of Arsenal's Champions League final defeat to PSG
05:00, 31 May 2026
Declan Rice
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Declan Rice has opened up on the mood in the dressing room after Arsenal's Champions League heartbreak
Declan Rice has revealed Mikel Arteta told his Arsenal players how much he loves them following their Champions League final heartbreak at the hands of PSG.
The Gunners fell short on penalties after Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes missed their spot-kicks following a 1-1 draw after extra-time.
Still, Arteta was keen to remind his players of what they have achieved this season: "He's gutted. Yeah, he's gutted.
"We're all gutted. It's the Champions League final. The emotions and the stakes are so high. Yeah it's cruel; it's cruel. That's football.
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"But look, he just spoke about how much he loves us as a group. You know, this season, what we've done in terms of how we've been every single game, 100 per cent, given absolutely everything, with everything that's been thrown at us.
"I think we've come really far as a group this year. I think we've come really far and this is only the start for this group again. Obviously, we got over the line in the Premier League, which was a dream come true. This would have been one step further.
"It wasn't meant to be. But we keep building. Since I came to the club, it was a quarter-final exit, semi-final, now a final. So look, we keep going, we keep staying positive and that's one thing about this group: it's not going to define us."
Rice also issued his support for Eze and Gabriel following the shootout heartbreak at the Puskas Arena.
Mikel Arteta
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Mikel Arteta couldn't hide his pain after Arsenal were beaten on penalties by PSG
When asked how they're feeling inside the dressing room, Arteta added: "Yeah, devastated. Obviously, to miss a penalty in a Champions League final is not nice.
"But we love them. We're with them. And look, that happens in football, you know. They're not going to be the last players to miss penalties in finals. Everyone's missed a penalty.
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"And without them two this season, we wouldn't have won the Premier League. That's for sure. Gabriel has run out of words for him. As a person, as a player. And Eze as well.
"The crucial goals he's come up with for us this year. It happens. It's football and it's cruel. But look, we take the positives and we keep going. The game was so tight."
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