Declan Rice urges Arsenal fans to bring ‘all the energy’ for Champions League final

Arsenal have received an official allocation of just 16,824 tickets from UEFA for the final at the 67,000-capacity Puskas Arena

Wed, 06 May, 2026 - 10:46

Phillip Duncan

Declan Rice has called on 200,000 fans to descend on Budapest and carry Arsenal to an historic first Champions League title.

Bukayo Saka delivered the decisive goal at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night as Arsenal secured a 2-1 aggregate triumph over Atletico Madrid to reach the showpiece in the Hungarian capital on May 30 – their first on Europe’s grandest stage for 20 years.

Following Manchester City’s 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday – which puts the Premier League title race in Arsenal’s hands – and their triumph over Atleti just 24 hours later, Mikel Arteta’s men are now only four matches away from completing the greatest campaign in the club’s 140-year history.

And although Arsenal have received an official allocation of just 16,824 tickets from UEFA for the final at the 67,000-capacity Puskas Arena, Rice wants Budapest to be a sea of red for the fixture against either Bayern Munich or Paris St Germain.

He said: “Bring it on, bring it on, I’ll be ready. I want every Arsenal fan out there, 200,000 of you, come out. Let’s try and do it because we’re going to need all the support, all the energy and let’s make it special.”

The nerves which have jangled around the Emirates for much of the calendar year were replaced by a pulsating atmosphere under the lights on Tuesday – one Rice described as the greatest the stadium has seen since its inception in 2006.

Ahead of the game, thousands of Arsenal supporters lined the streets surrounding the Emirates to create a ferocious atmosphere for the arrival of the Arsenal team coach.

And Rice, who delivered a commanding performance at the heart of Arsenal’s midfield, continued: “I can’t describe it to be honest with you. It’s been coming, this night at the Emirates. It’s the best night at the Emirates that I’ve witnessed.

“From the moment we drove in, the coaches stopped and we thought, ‘What’s going on?’ Because usually, we just drive straight in, and the next thing we see is all the flares and the fans and the goosebumps from all the players looking out the window, it was just incredible.

“When we came into the stadium, too, you could feel the energy from everyone. Even if you’re tired, it just gives you that energy to keep going, and they played a massive part in making us win.

“This era of Arsenal fans, I know people who have been there from the start have had a lot of ups and downs, but I’m sure this is really up there for them. To win the game and get into a final is just so special.”

Arsenal will next take on relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday, in what could prove the pivotal fixture in their pursuit of a first Premier League title in 22 years.

A home match against Burnley, already demoted to the Championship, and a final-day clash at Crystal Palace will follow, with three victories enough to fend off Manchester City’s challenge.