Rice reveals years of dedication behind free-kick brilliance following ‘special’ triumph over Real

Declan Rice claimed that his remarkable double from free-kicks during Arsenal’s sensational 3-0 triumph over the reigning Champions League holders, Real Madrid, was the culmination of years of hard work.

In the second half of Tuesday’s quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium, Rice netted two exquisite free-kicks.

His stunning long-range strikes, preceded by a goal from Mikel Merino, propelled Arsenal to the verge of their first Champions League semi-final appearance since 2009.

This astonishing result was particularly notable given that Rice had never scored a free-kick in his professional career prior to his outstanding effort that flew past Real’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

“It’s always been in me, but I’ve hit the wall too often or sent it over the bar,” Rice reflected.

“Initially, we had planned a cross, but then I noticed the wall and the keeper’s positioning. So I decided to take the chance.

“By the time the second came around, I had the confidence. I went for it. I’m buzzing, I’m thrilled, I’m ecstatic. But it’s only in a few years that I think I’ll truly appreciate how special tonight was.”

Arsenal’s unexpected victory was a well-deserved reward for a disciplined and mature performance that capitalised on a depleted Real squad, who struggled against the Gunners’ relentless intensity in the second half.

However, despite Arsenal’s advantageous position in their quest for a semi-final spot, Rice is determined to approach the second leg against the 15-time European champions with caution.

“We must be absolutely certain we can win this game. As a team, we felt really confident. We knew we had to score in the second half,” he stated.

“I won’t fully grasp this yet because there’s still another leg to play.

“We need to be prepared for next week. The Bernabeu is an extraordinary venue, and we need to be ready for what that entails.”