Declan Rice sent the Emirates to Pandemonium on Tuesday evening when he earned two incredible free kicks in fast follow-up to inspire Arsenal's 3-0 Champions League quarterfinals first leg against Real Madrid against Real Madrid
Arsenal's Champions League hero Declan Rice has revealed that he has practiced free kicks by looking at the ball after scoring two excellent free kicks against Real Madrid on Tuesday evening. The midfielder of England was the man of the moment in the quarterfinals at the Emirates after obtaining the first two free kicks of his career.
Rice curled himself in his first dead ball in the 58th minute and then converted another 12 minutes later that it was even better to leave the emirates in ecstasy, causing fans to scratch their heads after he hadn't scored in his time in the game.
The Gunners surprised the ruling European champions and won 3-0 at night when Mikel Merino added the third, left Arsenal in Dreamland and gave them a considerable advantage for the second stage in the Bernabeu.
After the game, Rice was praised for his free kick technique by club legend Thierry Henry – who was an expert for CBS – where the player himself said that he had practiced his efforts in the training area by not looking up after he took it.
With Rice, Henry said: “But you know what I like with the technology, is that you have hit it so hard and that you did not let your foot go, if you know what I mean, you held it.”
Rice replied: “I feel that when I practice these free kicks, what I tend to notice when I make contact and I look up quickly, it's not the strike I want.
“If I look down on the ball and just concentrate on the ball and know that I want to put it on the spot, I tend to have more consistency with it and of course that is one in A, I don't know what time. I practiced it and it happened and to score two, it will not touch me what I did.”
Henry continued to praise rice as he greeted him like a “man possessed” against the men of Carlo Ancelotti after his heroic hero harvest to leave Arsenal on the cusp of the semi -final.
“First and foremost, the game you had, it was crazy as you played,” he said. “It seemed that you played the game because you wanted to prove a point. I don't know who – for your teammates, the fans or some people – I don't know, but you were possessed tonight.”
After the match, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said that Rice had been “determined” to take more free kicks after the team had gone four years without scoring one while he greeted “Magic Moments” who gave them 3-0 lead against Madrid.
'He is really determined [to take free kicks] Because we have spoken in recent months. We have not scored direct free kick since September 2021, Burnley Away, Martin Odegaard, “
“It is a long time ago, so to score two goals in 12 minutes of that size and quality of the same player – a player who has never scored a free kick in his career. What are the chances?
“But he did it tonight. I am a big believer, I think the crowd played something with the energy they have done and it helped us to win the game. If you play with that energy and dedication of your crowd, it makes a huge difference. And then magical moments that determine football matches.
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