Declan Rice was the talk of the town after his two free-kick goals against Thibaut Courtois in the Champions League quarter-finals, but questions were raised about his performance in Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the semi-finals.
Ousmane Dembele opened and closed the scoring with his 25th goal of 2025 — more than any other player in Europe’s top leagues. Despite creating several chances, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal couldn’t find a way to respond at the Emirates.
With Thomas Partey sidelined due to suspension — a decision that reportedly frustrated Rice — the ex-West Ham captain lined up alongside Mikel Merino and Martin Ødegaard in midfield.
French Media’s Take on Rice’s Performance:
Due to Arsenal’s midfield limitations, Rice played a more defensive, central role, shielding the back four rather than pushing forward. French outlet Foot Mercato rated him 6/10, noting his powerful presence against PSG’s midfielders but pointing to a costly early error where he was slow to close down Dembele, who then scored.
Despite this, they praised his second-half contributions, including a well-placed free-kick assist to Merino and an impressive setup for Leandro Trossard following a driving run through the middle.
Another French site, Maxi Foot, echoed these mixed sentiments. They criticized Rice for allowing Dembele too much space, particularly in the box, but acknowledged his ability to handle PSG’s pressing and create chances going forward.
Statistically, Rice had a strong outing: he won 7 of 8 ground duels and completed 91% of his passes (50 out of 55), showing clear intent to progress play. Overall, he remained one of Arsenal’s better performers on a frustrating night.
Arsenal now turn their focus to a weekend Premier League fixture against Bournemouth, but it remains uncertain whether Rice, along with key players like Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, will be involved — with a crucial second leg against PSG looming.
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