Arsenal fans are in dreamland after the Gunners hammered Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Gunners were expected to have a hard time against the Liga giants and reigning Champions League holders.
However, Arsenal ended up making light work of Carlo Ancelotti’s side, with Declan Rice scoring not one but two absolutely wonderful free kicks on the night.
Rice’s first free kick was reminiscent of Roberto Carlos, expertly curled around the Real wall before dipping back inside the post, giving Thibaut Courtois no chance.
Meanwhile, Rice’s second was David Beckham-esque, a wonderful effort from long range curled expertly into the top right-hand corner of the net.
Alan Shearer shared what he heard a fan shouting towards Rice just before he took his first free kick.
Alan Shearer says Arsenal fan was shouting at Declan Rice to ‘smash it’ into the Real Madrid net
Shearer, who was on commentary duties on Amazon Prime, revealed that a fan was shouting ‘smash it Declan, smash it”, which Rice did with aplomb.
Shearer went on to call Rice’s first free kick “absolutely magnificent” and acknowledged that Courtois had no chance against it.
“A fan behind me was shouting “smash it Declan, smash it” and that’s exactly what he has done,” said Shearer, as transcribed on BBC Sport.
“A bit of finesse and a bit of curl. What a strike! It is absolutely magnificent. The keeper had no chance.”
What Alan Shearer said about Declan Rice’s second goal
Shearer was even more flabbergasted when Rice fired in an arguably better free kick just 12 minutes after his first one.
“You thought the first one was impressive? Goodness me,” he said. “The accuracy, the power, the bend and the control on it.
“Thibaut Courtois left a big gap because he thought he was going to go over the wall. It just sensational. Courtois is nowhere near it. It is absolutely incredible.”
Rice also had a hand in Arsenal’s third, put away by auxiliary striker Mikel Merino.
“Again, it was Declan Rice powering forward with the ball at his feet,” said Shearer.
“That is not an easy finish at all because he was going away from goal. He moved three or four yards to give himself some space – it made it a difficult task.
“What a strike! Superb connection. This place can’t believe it. It is nothing more than they deserve. They have given nothing away in the second half.”
The second leg – at the Bernabeu – takes place on Wednesday 16 April.
