Rice and Odegaard want Arsenal to embrace the pressure in Madrid as they chase a place in the Champions League final and a first European crown.
Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard have issued a clear message before Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final first leg at Atletico Madrid, telling Mikel Arteta’s side to embrace the pressure, use their recent disappointments and seize the chance to make history.
Arsenal travel to Madrid looking to move closer to only their second Champions League final, and their first since the 2006 defeat to Barcelona.
Rice wants Arsenal to confront that history rather than hide from it, with the midfielder urging his team-mates to treat the scale of the occasion as a privilege rather than a burden.
“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,” the midfielder said.
“That’s what it’s been all season, and that’s what we want it to be towards the end of the season. We’re Champions League semi-finalists; let’s embrace it, enjoy it and bring it on.”
Odegaard struck a similar note, accepting that Arsenal will continue to face questions until they turn their progress into silverware. The captain, who is still waiting for a major trophy after five years at the club, said the squad were in position to change the conversation.
“It’s always going to be there until we win and that’s something you have to live with,” Odegaard said. “We need to take all our experiences and the lessons and use them in a good way. It’s part of football and part of the journey.
“Against Atlético is another great opportunity for us to do something special. We know what’s there and we just have to enjoy it and be ready for it.
“We’re in a great position to make history and that’s what we want to do. I’ve been in this club for a while now and I’ve seen the progression since I first came and how much we’ve improved. It’s been amazing to be a part of that and I probably want to take that last step and do something really big.
“That’s the biggest dream and what we’re working towards every single day.”
A weather warning is in place for Madrid, with an electrical storm and heavy rain forecast, while the pitch at the Metropolitano Stadium has already attracted criticism this season. Barcelona complained that the grass was too long after their Champions League quarter-final exit there, and Tottenham players struggled to keep their feet during their last-16 first leg defeat, but that’s probably more a Spurs issue.
Arteta said his squad would “adapt to any context”, although he will have to do so without Kai Havertz, who is unavailable after limping out of Saturday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle.
Eberechi Eze is in the squad despite a fitness concern from the same match, while Riccardo Calafiori has also travelled after missing the last four matches.
Rice also made clear how important Eze could be after the England midfielder took his tally for the season to 10 with the winner against Newcastle.
“That’s what he’s been brought here to do. I said a few weeks ago, his ball-striking is unbelievable,” Rice said.
“What a player, what a guy. He’s going to be massive for us these next few weeks. We really need him.”