Arsenal’s Declan Rice stole the show with two incredible free-kicks in his team’s 3-0 triumph over Real Madrid.
The midfielder’s standout performance has earned him praise from football legends, including Jamie Carragher, who believes Rice has the potential to become one of the greatest English midfielders of his generation.
A Game to Remember: Rice’s Incredible Free-Kicks
The match began with Rice breaking the deadlock in spectacular fashion, scoring a powerful free-kick from range.
Just 12 minutes later, he delivered an even more impressive effort, bending the ball into the top corner to double Arsenal’s lead.
His two goals played a pivotal role in securing the victory, and the Gunners added a third goal in the 75th minute courtesy of Mikel Merino.
Arsenal’s solid defense ensured a clean sheet, and Rice naturally earned the Player of the Match award.
Carragher’s High Praise for Rice
Following the match, Carragher couldn’t help but draw comparisons between Rice and legendary English midfielders like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
However, the former Liverpool defender believes Rice’s style of play is more akin to that of Roy Keane, the former Manchester United captain.
Carragher argued that while Rice may not be known for his goals, his overall contribution to the team is invaluable.
“I have always said Rice has the potential to be the great English midfielder of his generation, and he showed why,” Carragher wrote in his column for The Telegraph.
“Too often, he seems to be criticized for not scoring or creating enough goals, when that is not his primary function.”
Carragher emphasized that Rice plays a deeper role than Gerrard and Lampard did during their prime, and likened him to Keane, who wasn’t known for scoring but was a dominant presence in midfield.
If Arsenal progresses further in the competition, Carragher believes Rice’s performance will be remembered in the same breath as Keane’s iconic contribution to Manchester United’s victory over Juventus in 1999.
Rice Reflects on a Historic Night
After the game, Rice admitted that it was hard to fully grasp the significance of his achievement.
With over 330 professional matches under his belt, the two free-kicks marked the first direct ones he’d ever scored in his career.
Despite the excitement, he seemed overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and attention.
“My phone has gone crazy,” Rice said. “I don’t know if it will ever sink in.
To score the first and second, I fancied both and had the confidence… it’s a nice bit of history to beat Madrid.”
When asked about messages from famous players, Rice joked, “No messages from David Beckham, I’m not lucky enough to have his number. But I am so happy.”
The Decision to Take the Free-Kicks
Rice also shared the behind-the-scenes details of how the free-kicks came to be.
Originally, he wasn’t planning on taking the shots himself.
Arsenal’s set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, had suggested crossing the ball into the box, but Rice felt that it didn’t make sense in that situation.
Teammate Bukayo Saka encouraged him to go for it, and Rice trusted his instincts.
“We had a good discussion before each one,” Rice explained. “Martin [Odegaard] was saying to cross, I said it doesn’t make sense.
Bukayo said if you feel it, go for it. I looked at the wall and keeper and said I could bend it, and that’s what happened.”
In the end, it was a moment of individual brilliance, with Rice’s belief in himself and support from his teammates leading to two unforgettable goals that will go down in Arsenal history.