“We Need to Have Big Balls”: Gunners Gear Up for Champions League Semi-Final Showdown
There’s something about the Champions League lights that brings out raw honesty in footballers. And on Tuesday night, Arsenal’s Declan Rice didn’t sugarcoat it. With the Gunners one goal down heading into the second leg of their semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, Rice stepped up to the mic and told it like it is.
“We need to have big balls,” he said. “And we need to go out there on the biggest stage and show that we’re ready to play at this level.”
No clichés. No polished PR lines. Just a blunt rallying cry from one of Arsenal’s most influential figures this season.
Arsenal Need More Than Just Grit
Rice’s comments came during a pre-match press conference, where he was visibly fired up — not just for the task ahead, but for the chance to be part of something historic. After years of absence from the latter stages of Europe’s biggest tournament, Arsenal now stand on the brink of the final in Munich. But it’s PSG who hold the advantage after last week’s 2-1 win at the Emirates.
That game felt like a missed opportunity. Arsenal dominated large spells but lacked the killer instinct. Now, they’ll need something extra — not just tactics and fitness, but guts. And that’s where Rice’s mindset comes in.
“Our manager calls them magic moments,” he said. “He always talks about having someone deliver something special. Tomorrow night, hopefully we can be the ones who do it.”
Declan Rice: The Engine and the Inspiration
For all the noise around Arsenal’s attacking flair this season — the rise of Bukayo Saka, the precision of Martin Ødegaard, the energy of Gabriel Martinelli — it’s Rice who has been the steady heartbeat. Signed last summer in a record-breaking deal from West Ham, he’s quickly become the team’s leader in more ways than one.
And he’s no stranger to the big moments either. In the quarter-finals, it was Rice who sent shockwaves through Europe with two stunning free-kick goals against Real Madrid — moments that helped Arsenal cruise to a 5-1 aggregate win.
He’s not your typical goalscoring midfielder, but he’s evolved under Mikel Arteta. His blend of physical presence and technical calm has given Arsenal the balance they’ve lacked for years. And now, on the cusp of a Champions League final, the spotlight is on him once again.
PSG Hold the Edge — But It’s Not Over
Let’s not sugarcoat it: PSG are dangerous. Kylian Mbappé was relatively quiet in the first leg, but everyone knows he’s capable of flipping a tie with one burst of acceleration. And with the likes of Ousmane Dembélé and Vitinha pulling the strings behind him, Arsenal’s back line will need to be flawless in Paris.
Still, it’s far from a done deal. Arsenal have shown this season that they can travel well in Europe, and the one-goal deficit means they don’t need to go all-out from minute one. It’s about composure as much as it is about fire.
That said, Rice’s call for bravery wasn’t about chaos — it was about presence. This is the kind of night where players write their names into club history. And Rice, for all his modesty off the pitch, knows that well.
Magic Moments and Mentality
“You need those moments,” Rice said. “Against Real Madrid, it was my night. But now it’s set up for someone else — maybe Bukayo, maybe Martin, maybe someone coming off the bench. Whoever it is, we just need to believe it’ll come.”
It’s a mature take, one that speaks volumes about the culture Arteta has built at Arsenal. There’s no talk of individuals carrying the burden alone. It’s about the group. The collective belief that someone will rise when it matters most.
And with the Champions League final now within touching distance, that belief could be the deciding factor.
What’s Next for Arsenal?
After the showdown in Paris, there’s little time to rest. Arsenal head to Anfield this weekend, where they’ll face newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool. In a show of class, the Gunners are expected to give Jürgen Klopp’s side a guard of honour before kickoff — but make no mistake, they’ll be looking to spoil the celebrations on the pitch.
Still, all eyes are on the Champions League right now. Arsenal haven’t been in a final since 2006. For a club of their stature, that drought has weighed heavily.
But now, with the right mix of youth, experience, and leadership — and a manager who demands belief — the moment is there. And Declan Rice, never one to hide behind words, knows exactly what it’ll take.
Big performances. Big mentality.
Or as he put it best: big balls.
