Declan Rice urges Arsenal to embrace history ahead of clash with Atletico Madrid

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/arsenal-hA1Zm19f/atl-madrid-jaarqpLQ/?mid=rX6hagpg"]The Gunners travel to the Spanish capital for the first leg[/a] looking to move a step closer to only their second Champions League final appearance.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arteta-mikel/lAbHYaQM/"]Mikel Arteta[/a]'s side have been labelled English football's nearly men after three successive runners-up finishes in the Premier League.[/p][p]They have fallen short in Europe as well, losing 3-1 on aggregate to eventual winners [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]Paris Saint-Germain[/a] in the Champions League semi-finals last season and bowing out against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayern-munich/nVp0wiqd/"]Bayern Munich[/a] in the 2024 quarter-finals.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] have never won Europe's elite club competition, with their lone final ending in defeat against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] in 2006.[/p][p]The Premier League has become the London club's holy grail after their painful streak of near misses in recent years.[/p][p]But lifting the Champions League for the first time would be an equally fitting riposte to those doubting the mental strength of Arteta's men.[/p][embed guid="26e5c58d-211d-4b99-9a77-911147c32ded" url="https://x.com/Arsenal/status/2048824693382418928" social-type="twitter" /][p]Just seven games separate Arsenal from the club's greatest ever season.[/p][p]They sit three points clear of second-placed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] in the Premier League title race, with four matches to play and five for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guardiola-pep/hxNijWrJ/"]Pep Guardiola[/a]'s men.[/p][p]Three games remain in the Champions League if Arsenal reach the final against PSG or Bayern in Budapest on May 30.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rice-declan/zkQ8Cm6n/"]Rice[/a] wants his teammates to prove their past experiences have made them battle-hardened for their pursuit of history.[/p][p][b]"We've played in tough games in the last three or four years at the highest level, so we know what to expect and what's to come,"[/b] the midfielder said.[/p][p][b]"That's what it's been all season, and that's what we want it to be towards the end of the season.[/b][/p][p][b]"We're Champions League semi-finalists, let's embrace it, enjoy it and bring it on."[/b][/p][embed guid="4587393c-2046-46bd-9133-fefc5c78abb2" url="https://x.com/Arsenal/status/2048735029283508357" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Havertz and Eze doubts[/h2][p]After losing two high-stakes showdowns with City recently - a 2-0 League Cup final defeat and 2-1 loss in the Premier League - the jury remains out on Arsenal's ability to get over the line when it matters most.[/p][p]A fraught 1-0 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-utd/p6ahwuwJ/"]Newcastle[/a] on Saturday was hardly a convincing response to the cynics.[/p][p]But it did end a two-game losing run in the league and eased a little of the tension after four defeats in their previous six matches in all competitions.[/p][p]Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/eze-eberechi/Stf4BYFn/"]Eberechi Eze[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/havertz-kai/rH8BZWiI/"]Kai Havertz[/a] for the trip to Madrid after they limped off last weekend.[/p][p]Eze had taken his goal tally for the season to 10 with a sublime strike against Newcastle.[/p][embed guid="1f72b521-24ba-44c3-8038-af3cc743dc22" url="https://x.com/Arsenal/status/2048854696522367339" social-type="twitter" /][p]The England midfielder has been a rare source of attacking inspiration in a side whose success has been built on a solid defensive foundation.[/p][p]And Rice is desperate for his international teammate to be fit to face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/simeone-diego/AZ18LjKN/"]Diego Simeone[/a]'s side.[/p][p][b]"That's what he's been brought here to do. I said a few weeks ago, his ball striking is unbelievable,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"What a player, what a guy. He's going to be massive for us these next few weeks. We really need him."[/b][/p]