Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
The Gunners recorded a historic win, which has given them a huge advantage heading into the second leg next week at the Bernabeu. If they win, they will book a tie against either Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa in the semi-finals.
The highlight of the game were two free kicks scored by Declan Rice. The first to take the lead after 58 minutes, before he scored another in the 70th minute, in what was an unbelievable period of play for Mikel Arteta‘s side.
Mikel Merino scored a third in the 75th minute to make it 3-0, before things got worse for Madrid and Eduardo Camavinga was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.
After the game, Rice took to Instagram to post a picture of him celebrating the second goal, and it has received reactions from celebrities and sporting icons in appraisal of his superb game.
Former Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard, who is now the manager of Coventry City, commented: “Top top quality mate”. Whereas professional golfer and former Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter said: “Best 2 free kicks ever scored by an Arsenal player all within 20 mins. Loved it.”
Formula One driver Lando Norris was amongst those who commented with emojis, alongside former Man City goalkeeper Joe Hart, who put “Unreal!”.
Rice’s Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka also commented on the post with a head blown emoji, and it is no surprise after what the England international managed on Tuesday night.
What did Rice say after the game?
The midfielder was obviously beaming as he came off the pitch on Tuesday. Rice scored two of the best goals of the season, in THE most important game of Arsenal’s year so far.
After the game, he spoke to Amazon Prime Video and said: “I don’t know whether it will ever sink in. I’ve gone back to my phone then and it’s gone crazy.
“To score my first free-kick in a game is a special one. And then when I got the second one… I just had the confidence. I’m speechless really. I don’t think it’s going to hit me, what I’ve done tonight. It’s a historic night.
“I’m happy I took it because it was magic. It’s been in the locker, but I’ve hit the wall too many times or it’s gone over the bar. I’m excited. I’m happy. I’m over the moon. But in a few years’ time this will really hit me that what I’ve done tonight was really special.”
Click here to see Arsenal’s player ratings for the game against Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
