Declan Rice's free kick double against Real Madrid has confirmed his place in the history of Champions League, but it came after mixed messages from his teammates and coaches
Arsenal is about to have a first semi-final of the Champions League since 2009, largely thanks to the right boot from Declan Rice. The legendary free kick of the Londonaar at home for Real Madrid will certainly go in Gunners Folklore, but it never came.
Fans can happily consider themselves that Bukayo Saka was present to give a message of positivity to the player while he was striking about the first of his two set. That is after Rice has unveiled the influence of his teammate in the run -up to the opening that was beaten past Thibaut Courtois.
Proponents are perhaps less grateful for Arsenal-Set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, who shared another sentiment in the seconds for his brace. And it is just as well Rice has something of a rebellious line in him.
Manager Mikel Arteta Gutste about his star midfielder after the game, although his reaction in real -time was all the more entertaining. Mirror Sport breaks some of the hidden moments around Rice's historical contribution, making his performance much more special.
Coach the orders
The efficacy of Arsenal van Corners in recent campaigns has earned a lot of praise for specialist Jover. And Rice has turned out to be the instrument, so that the Gunners get a lot of their best work from those scenarios.
Rice, however, proved in the midweek that respecting someone's superiors is not always recommended after Jover's crossed towards the ball. And the former sensation of West Ham turned out to have the money – twice.
“We [the staff] said to cross it: “He told the Amazon Prime Video Crew after the game.” When she [the defenders in the wall] Were a bit more than we saw the space … I thought I would take this.
“If you score a goal, this is the best feeling in the world. It didn't make sense to cross the ball from that corner. It should be a delicate pass. And when I saw the wall. It was not logical to cross. You know what, I am glad I took it because it was magical.”
Jover certainly thought just as much because he was celebrating as wild as someone else. However, Rice had nothing of it, as he added: “He claims for it, but he told me to cross it!”
Saka's nod of approval
Rice also addressed Saka's hand in the strike after his teammate of England told him that he had to go with his intestines. After spotting Real's Wall had left with an opening in the right party of Courtois, Rice told Arsenal's Star -Vleugel player that he was convinced that he could pay the target himself.
“If you feel it, go for it,” Saka's pronunciation of seven words came with an affirmative nod. And that was all the approval that was needed to ignore and go of Jover's instructions.
The French set piece coach will never be so happy that it has been wrong. Not to mention the fact that he will look at Rice – who had never already scored a free kick in his career – in a completely different light when it comes to dead ball situations.
Emotional arteta
Arteta is no stranger to show his emotion on the sidelines, but the coach was just as stupidity as someone else at the Emirates when Rice's first goal entered. The immediate response of the Spaniard was to push his fists in the air, but that quickly turned into disbelief when he stare his own head before he was beaten by his staff.
That action was reflected what a lot of Arsenal fans would have felt at the moment, and probably rising to a certain extent. At no time did the Gunners seem to be on the back in what is probably the best hour of Arteta as a manager so far, and in response he paid tribute to his talisman.
“He is very determined because we have spoken in recent months, we have not scored direct free kick since September 2021; Burnley Away, Martin Odegaard,” said Arteta in the press conference after the match. “So it's a long time ago, so to score two goals in 12 minutes of that quality of that quality of the same player, a player who has never scored a free kick in his career, I mean, what are the chances?
“But he did it tonight, and I am a big believer. I think the crowd played something with the energy they have done, and it helped us enormously to win the game.”