A defiant Declan Rice managed to pick himself up from the devastation of Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to PSG and vowed to ‘come back for more’ silverware at the club’s trophy parade.
There was a rapid turnaround for Mikel Arteta’s players after their crushing setback in Budapest, where Luis Enrique’s PSG prevailed on penalties to successfully defend their European crown.
Arteta’s men – who clinched the Premier League trophy a week-and-a-half earlier – had looked on course for a famous victory as Kai Havertz struck after only six minutes to send Arsenal’s travelling support into raptures.
But Ousmane Dembele levelled from the spot in the 65th minute before Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes both missed from 12 yards in a nerve-shredding shootout at the Puskas Arena.
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Just hours after the loss, Arsenal’s squad caught a 2am flight from the Hungarian capital in order to be with fans at the club’s Premier League title celebrations in north London this afternoon.
There were jubilant scenes as Martin Odegaard and Co held the trophy aloft from their open-top bus, with hundreds of thousands flocking to the streets of Islington, Highbury and Canonbury to soak up the moment of history.
Arsenal midfielder Rice – one of the side’s standout performers across the campaign – was beaming from ear to ear as he gave his thoughts on the season during an interview alongside his team-mates.
‘I love this team, I love this manager,’ the England international began.
‘To see the joy we can give people it’s crazy.
‘Next year we’re coming back for more. Lock in or get locked out.’
Rice’s inspirational message came just moments after he had treated the crowd to chants of ‘Set-piece again, olé, olé!’ and a rousing rendition of ‘Ice Ice Baby’ – except with his name inserted into the chorus.
Just hours earlier, Rice made sure to show his support for Eze and Gabriel in the wake of their ‘devastating’ penalties misses in what he described as a ‘cruel’ end to the Champions League final.
They are devastated to miss a penalty in the Champions League final,’ the former West Ham midfielder told reporters.
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‘It is not nice. But we love them, we are with them and that happens in football. They are not going to be the last players to miss penalties in finals.
‘Everyone has missed a penalty and without those two this season we wouldn’t have won the Premier League, that is for sure.’
Rice added: ‘I’ve ran out of words for Gabriel, as a person, as a player.
‘Eze as well. the crucial goals he has come up with this year.
‘It is cruel, but its football.’
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