Declan Rice described Arsenal's Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain as 'cruel' after losing 4-3 in the Budapest shoot-out. The Gunners' quest for a first European crown ended in heartbreak despite reaching their second final in club history, with Eberechi Eze and Gabriel failing to convert from the spot.

Rice emphasized that the loss won't overshadow their Premier League triumph, telling TNT Sports that progress shows in their run from quarter-finals to semi-finals to the final. He acknowledged the pain but insisted Arsenal will keep building toward greater heights.

Manager Mikel Arteta praised PSG as potentially the world's best team while expressing pride in his squad's resilience. He wants his players to 'digest the pain' and use it as fuel for improvement, recognizing what they've achieved under difficult circumstances.

Rice also referenced a similar penalty incident against Bayer Leverkusen when discussing Noni Madueke's extra-time appeal that wasn't given. The midfielder accepted the referee's decision while acknowledging Arsenal's growing influence in European competition despite falling short this time.