Declan Rice sends message after PSG defeat | OneFootball

Declan Rice has shared a message with his social media followers insisting that Arsenal have “full belief” ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg against PSG.

Declan Rice on his Instagram story

Posting on his Instagram story the day after Arsenal’s 1-0 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Gunners midfielder Declan Rice said he has “nothing but full belief going into next week”, adding “thank you for the support” to the fans.

Many Arsenal players weren’t at their best against PSG in the first leg, but Rice was one of few whose level didn’t appear to drop.

The midfielder was excellent in his individual duels, winning seven out of nine and making five tackles, and he also provided the team will a valuable out ball by completing seven of his nine long passes.

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Excluding Mikel Merino’s disallowed goal, Rice was also heavily involved in the moment where Arsenal went closest to scoring.

The 26-year-old drove through the PSG midfield and shrugged off a challenge before finding Leandro Trossard with a through ball. Trossard was in on goal, and only denied by the fingertips of Gianluigi Donnarumma pushing his shot around the post.

That really should have been Arsenal’s levelling goal, and it was Rice who made the chance almost single-handedly.

Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images

The Gunners will need another performance like that from the England international away in Paris next week. With Rice likely to play a more advanced role in the French capital, the hope is that he can help to make the difference in the final third.