Arsenal put on a Champions League masterclass against reigning champs Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
Ancelotti’s men will be returning to Madrid with their tails between their legs after a 3-0 drubbing at the Emirates. The Gunners’ overall performance was as good as we have seen from them all season.
Arteta deserves huge credit for his tactical setup, which put pressure on the Madrid backline, leading them to lose the ball 37 times in their own half.
Defensively, they were rock-solid, with Mbappe and Vinicius stonewalled by William Saliba and co., failing to get clear sights on the Arsenal goal. Mikel Merino continues to prove his worth, popping up with yet another vital goal.
But it was the magic of Declan Rice that has grabbed the headlines, and understandably so. Two sublime free kicks in the space of 12 minutes shocked Los Blancos and ultimately swayed the tie in Arsenal’s favour.
Gabriel amazed at Declan Rice’s right foot
Central defender Gabriel Magalhaes was as impressed as we were, witnessing the brilliant brace from the touchline. He posted to Instagram after the game:
When Rice came into the dressing room holding his Player of the Match award, Gabriel couldn’t contain his excitement: “Oh my God! Oh my God! Give me your right foot, please please please, unbelievable brother!”
I’m sure Arsenal fans will be feeling the same way about the Englishman. They head to the Bernabeu next week with a three-goal cushion and a chance to reach the semi-final for the first time since 2009.
How many free kicks has Rice scored in his career?
Declan Rice never managed a free-kick goal in his 338 professional appearances before Tuesday’s clash. He had admittedly taken just 12, but it still serves to point out the absurdity of the two he bagged last night.
Thibaut Courtois is as big and solid as any keeper in history, and beating him from range requires near-perfect poise, precision and power. Both free-kicks had those qualities in spades.
After tonight’s performance, don’t be shocked to see Rice standing over more of the team’s dead-ball situations moving forward.
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