Declan Rice makes admission with Arsenal set to discover Champions League final opponent

Declan Rice has delivered his verdict on the preferred opponent for Arsenal in the Champions League final.

The Gunners beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League semi-final second leg on Tuesday night, progressing 2-1 on aggregate at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s side can look forward to the club’s second-ever final in this competition and they will face either holders Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich on May 30 in Budapest, Hungary.

While Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game, Rice starred once again in central midfield and has set his sights on helping Arsenal win their first-ever European crown.

Arsenal will discover their Champions League final opponents on Wednesday night, with PSG taking a narrow 5-4 lead into the Allianz Arena following a sensational display of attacking football in the first leg.

That said, Rice noncommittal when asked who he would rather face in the final, saying he and his team-mates will relish playing the best team.

Speaking after the game, he told Amazon Prime: “I think you have to watch tomorrow night just because of the spectacle that it was last week. It was incredible to watch, so many unbelivable players on show.

“I will give it a watch and see what happens, and look, it’s the Champions League final, you have all played in them.

“May the best team win whoever gets there.”

In beating Atletico, Arsenal have won three and drawn one since losing to Manchester City on April 19 and Rice revealed what has sparked an upturn on form.

"We have kind of turned a corner again. We went through a stage where we weren't performing at our best,” he added.

“We were a bit sloppy in our play, but we have found a new way to play again.

"When you have got confidence in football it is everything. I know everyone is focused."

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