Declan Rice is preparing for what could be a defining night, as Arsenal chase a first Champions League title against Paris Saint-Germain at Puskas Arena on Saturday. The newly crowned Premier League winners are targeting a major double, hoping to finish a demanding season by adding Europe’s biggest club trophy to domestic success in front of a global audience.

PSG arrive as holders and heavyweights, seeking to defend the Champions League crown after beating Inter 5-0 in last season’s final. Luis Enrique’s team are trying to become just the second club to retain the trophy in the modern era, after Real Madrid’s three straight wins between 2016 and 2018 underlining how difficult that achievement remains.

This will be only Arsenal’s second appearance in a European Cup or Champions League final, following the 2006 defeat to Barcelona, which still lingers for many supporters. Two decades later, Mikel Arteta’s squad have another opportunity, and victory would make Arsenal the 25th different club to lift the trophy and the third first-time winner in the last four seasons.

Recent history offers another twist, as the Gunners could follow the path taken by Manchester City in 2023 and PSG last year, both of whom claimed their inaugural Champions League titles. Yet Arsenal also carry an unwanted record, having contested 225 games in European Cup or Champions League competition without ever securing the prize, more than any other club.

That statistic contrasts with the current mood around Arteta’s group, which many observers see as more complete than past versions. The core has matured together, and the Premier League title has strengthened belief that this side can finally convert domestic strength into European honours, even against opponents as seasoned in Champions League knockout football as PSG.

Rice has been central to this transformation since arriving from West Ham in 2023 for a reported £100 million fee, immediately becoming a key figure in midfield. The England international embraces the pressure attached to such a price tag and the stage he now occupies, especially with a Champions League final at stake in just his second season at the club.

“I would like to say I’m a big-game player, Rice told UEFA.com. When you play in the biggest competitions, you need your players to step up at every single point, and not only just me. I think our team have done that over the last few years in big gameswe’ve stepped up, especially in the Champions League. There’s a few of us that have got that in us, and we’re going to need that going into the final as well.”

The midfielder also explained how preparation and mentality will matter in Budapest. “In football, you can’t determine before the game whether you’re going to play well or not. It’s the unknown. But what you can control is how you start the game off, how [much] confidence you can build within yourself. And whether that’s with your first touch, a tackle, a header, always do the first thing right, and you build from there.”

Rice’s belief is backed by previous Champions League performances, especially a standout display last April against Real Madrid. In that quarter-final first leg, Rice struck two spectacular free-kicks in a 3-1 victory over the 15-time winners, setting up a 5-1 aggregate success and sending Arsenal into the semi-finals with serious momentum.

That night at Emirates Stadium carried extra significance for Rice. He became the first player ever to hit two direct free-kicks in a Champions League knockout match, and only the fifth to score more than one in any Champions League fixture, joining Cristiano Ronaldo, Hakim Ziyech, Neymar and Rivaldo in an exclusive scoring group.

Arsenal’s Champions League journey in 2024-25 ended one step from the final, when PSG knocked them out 3-1 on aggregate. The French side won both legs of that semi-final tie, then overwhelmed Inter 5-0 in the showpiece, underlining the challenge facing Arteta’s players as they attempt to reverse that outcome on a bigger stage.

Rice believes those previous meetings will influence how Arsenal handle the rematch. “PSG are a really good side. [We] played them over two legs last year. It could have gone either way, so speaking about it now, may the best team win. What did we learn from last season’s semi-final defeat? That you’ve got to take your chances, because we had plenty of them. It wasn’t meant to be, but it’s [those] moments that set you up for the moments that are coming. We’ll be ready.”

Rice also underlined the intensity required against opponents with PSG’s quality and experience. “You need to be on your A-Game to beat PSG. You need that fuel in your belly from the first whistle, that you’re going to win this final. It’s the biggest competition in football. Champions League final, it gets no bigger than that. What a chance, what an opportunity. It’ll be the last kick of club football for the season, so go out on a high and give it absolutely everything, one last empty of the tank and give it everything you’ve got to win such a beautiful trophy with this club.”

Arsenal’s official channels have highlighted Rice throughout the build-up, reflecting how important the midfielder has become to the team’s identity at Champions League level.

As Arsenal and PSG meet again, both clubs chase different pieces of Champions League history; PSG look to defend the title, while Arsenal attempt to lift it for the first time. Rice’s influence, past big-game displays and mindset give Arteta’s side a focal point as they aim to close a long European chapter with a landmark victory.