Declan Rice makes huge Champions League prediction as Arsenal star draws Inter Milan inspiration

Declan Rice has backed Arsenal to win the Champions League ahead of the Gunners' clash against RC Lens. The French outfit will welcome Mikel Arteta's side to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Tuesday night for matchday two of the group stage.

Arsenal head into the tie off the back of a 4-0 win over PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium on the first match day, with Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard opening their accounts for the campaign. Meanwhile, RC Lens were held to a 1-1 draw against Sevilla on the opening week of the competition.

While the Gunners are yet to secure a place in the knockout stages, Rice believes his side have what it takes to go the distance and get their hands on some silverware. In an interview with FourFourTwo, the England international insisted that he's looking to help Arsenal win the tournament for the first time in the club's history.

The north Londoners reached the Champions league final in 2006, but they were defeated by Barcelona in Paris despite having led one-nil until the final quarter of an hour. Rice said: «Arsenal got so close in 2006, so to add that to the trophies the club has won would be top.

»In club football, the Champions League is the biggest thing you can play in. A club like Arsenal deserves to be in the Champions League, and I feel like anything could happen. Look at Inter last season – they went all the way to the final and no one expected that, so you can go on a great run. I believe we can compete with the best."

Arsenal have a short recovery time before locking horns with RC Lens after facing Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon. Following the clash at the Vitality Stadium, Arteta was pleased with his side's application despite a European tie on the