Sky Sports Pundit Paul Merson was laughed at by colleagues after his response to Declan Rice, who resulted in a famous Champions League victory at Real Madrid
Paul Merson was quickly collected by the Sky Sports Crew after calling Arsenal's 3-0 win over Real Madrid 'The Greatest Night at the Emirates'. However, it was not the extent of that compliment that his colleagues from their colleague expert laughed – but more the way he responded to Declan's Champions League Heroics.
Rice, 26, delivered two free kicks of the highest quality to give the Gunners their first victory over Los Blancos since 2006. And Arsenal has discussed the result of a first semifinal appearance of the Champions League in more than 15 years.
It is not surprising that Merson – who scored 99 goals in 423 performances for Arsenal – was fast the result above it with some of the most iconic of the club of all time. And he was determined in his claim that the victory over the ruling kings of Europe was the best of Arsenal since he moved to the Emirates almost 19 years ago.
“It must be. It must be,” said the Arsenal icon on Sky Sports. “He never scored a free kick in his life. Ever. Well, because he is professional. I don't know if he got one when he was 10.”
It was then that the microphones of Sky took at least one unnamed colleague who giggled at the correction. Although the higher pitch of laughter suggests that Steve Sidwell or Sue Smith might be the perpetrator.
Merson, 57, did not, however, did not break when he continued to flow over the devastating Dead-Ball-Dubbel Rice. And for a good reason, especially when one considers the quality of the man in the goal that tries to keep both efforts out.
“The two [free-kicks] are just incredible, “he added.”
“And the other – [Thibaut] Courtois is over that side, and he places it in the upper corner and touches it that it goes when it goes in. That is how good a goal was. “
Merson also praised Mikel Merino for his smartly taken third in the night, who was not nearly as easy as the Spaniard let it look. Arsenal has enjoyed a litany of iconic victories in the Emirates.
Their 5-0 Drubbing from Chelsea just last year, a 7-3 victory over Newcastle in 2012 or Burnley with 5-0 in the farewell of Arsene Wenger would have previously been contrary to the title of Merson. But it is difficult to claim if one of these the same grandeur has to defeat Carlo Ancelottis so convincingly, and with two such iconic goals en route.
Even in the midst of the majesty of those strikes, Merson could only pull some laughter along the way. However, the Gunners were only done half, with a huge task that awaits them in the Spanish capital next Wednesday.
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