Declan Rice’s two outstanding free-kicks stole the show as Arsenal taught Real Madrid a footballing lesson in their 3-0 victory in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final in what was arguably the greatest night the Emirates Stadium has ever witnessed.
The Arsenal midfielder, who had never scored even a single free-kick before Tuesday night managed to dispatch a brace and make even the tremendous Thibaut Courtois look powerless when the ball left his right foot twice.
In doing so, Declan Rice might have well taken a sizable step towards being deemed a Gunners legend as he produced one of the most impactful performances an Arsenal player has in the club’s rich history.
But after Arsenal thrashed Real Madrid, Rice explained the thinking behind both his free-kicks.
- READ MORE: Declan Rice makes comment about West Ham after scoring two free-kicks for Arsenal vs Real Madrid
Declan Rice revealed looking down during free-kicks helped him during Arsenal vs Real Madrid
Alan Shearer raved about Rice’s two free-kicks against Real Madrid and Arsenal’s man of the moment explained that he has noticed that every time he looks at the ball before striking it in training, the result tends not to be satisfatory.
As even Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham was taken aback by Rice’s free-kicks as Arsenal took the visitors apart, the man himself also explained that when he does not look at the ball — his attempts are often far more accurate and the subtle change he made worked to a tee.
Thierry Henry asked Rice on CBS Sports “But you know what I like with the technique is you whipped it so hard early and you didn’t let your foot go, if you know what I mean, you held it.”
Rice replied: “I feel like when I practice these free-kicks, what I tend to notice is when I make the contact and I look up quick, it’s not the strike I want. When I look down on the ball and just focus on the ball and know in the spot I want to put it in, I tend to have more consistency with it and obviously, that’s a one in a, I don’t know what moment. I’ve been practicing it and it’s come off and to score two, it won’t hit me what I’ve done.”
How Kylian Mbappe reacted to Declan Rice’s second free-kick in Champions League quarter-final
Rice is well and truly a man who is dedicated to his craft — as was exemplified by his post-match assessment after Arsenal’s win against Real Madrid.
If the former West Ham United captain had not put in the hours of practice in training, his free-kicks might not have hurt Los Blancos on Tuesday.
But he did and Kylian Mbappe was caught by cameras being visibly blown away by the second free-kick in particular.
Alan Shearer lauded Rice’s all-round masterclass against Real Madrid and in every sense of the word, he put in a complete display.
Even Thierry Henry called Rice a man “possessed” and noted that he looked like a man with a point to prove.
For years, Arsenal’s mentality when the pressure is at its maximum has been questioned.
But Rice seems to be built of sterner stuff and his fearlessness in attempting both free-kicks from distance shows that this current crop of players are keen to show that they can mix it with the best of the best.
