Declan Rice was the star of the show for Arsenal in their 3-0 win against Real Madrid — scoring a brace of free-kicks to produce one of the most memorable performances from an English player in Champions League history.
Arsenal have plenty of outstanding midfielders such as Patrick Vieira, Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Petit to have donned the iconic red and white strip but it is worth questioning whether they have a display as impactful as the England international’s in Europe.
Regardless of whether the answer is yes or no, Thierry Henry’s praise for Rice against Real Madrid was deserved as the Frenchman rightly pinpointed that he was a man possessed in his left-sided attacking midfield role.
But after Arsenal beat Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final, Henry pinpointed how influential Bukayo Saka was on the night.
- READ MORE: The Spanish media could not believe what Bukayo Saka kept doing vs Real Madrid in Arsenal’s win 3-0
Thierry Henry hints Bukayo Saka was Arsenal’s star man vs Real Madrid
Saka is Thierry Henry’s favourite player and the former Arsenal striker was quick to point out that while Declan Rice came up trumps, it was the 23-year-old who ran the show against Real Madrid.
Henry explained that Saka won both the free-kicks that Rice eventually scored and the way he drove with the ball and prompted the Real Madrid’s players to foul him made him Arsenal’s difference-maker.
On CBS Sports, Thierry Henry said: “Declan Rice came big on the two free-kicks but ultimately, for me, as I said, Bukayo Saka created everything, the two fouls were on him.”
“Every time, taking the ball, running past one to two to three to four players to go inside and get the free-kicks.”
What Declan Rice said about Bukayo Saka’s display after Arsenal vs Real Madrid
Thierry Henry revealed he hugely respects Saka due to his rise to the top at Arsenal and against Real Madrid, what was clear to see is that he is right up there amongst the best players in the world.
Rice was full of praise for his Gunners teammate while speaking to CBS Sports after his cracking performance on Tuesday night.
“Look, to come back in the time he has is unbelievable, he’s unreal.”
“He’s a top guy, we need to be ready next week because the Bernabeu, we know what it’s like to play there, he [Mikel Merino] can obviously tell you what it’s like.”
