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Fan footage of Declan Rice’s TWO worldie free-kicks in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid

Fan footage has gone via of Declan Rice’s TWO worldie free-kicks in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Declan Rice delivered an unforgettable performance at the Emirates Stadium, scoring two sensational free-kicks that powered Arsenal to a storming lead over Real Madrid in the first leg of the quarter-final tie.

This match, widely regarded as one of Arsenal’s finest European nights in recent memory, showcased Rice’s unexpected mastery from set-pieces, leaving fans, pundits, and even Real Madrid’s defence stunned.

The first goal came in the 58th minute. Bukayo Saka winning a free-kick about 25-30 yards out, slightly to the left of centre.

Despite the distance and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’s imposing presence, Rice stepped up with confidence.

Ignoring the original plan to cross the ball, as suggested by Arsenal’s set-piece coach, he spotted a gap due to Courtois positioning his four-man wall too centrally.

With a whip-like strike, Rice bent the ball like Beckham, around the wall, starting it outside the post before it curled back in, nestling into the near corner beyond Courtois’s reach.

The Emirates erupted, and the strike drew comparisons to the iconic free-kicks of David Beckham and Roberto Carlos—who, fittingly, was in the stands watching.

12 minutes later, in the 70th minute, Rice did it again. Saka’s mazy run earned another free-kick, this time in a more central position, just over 25 yards out.

Real Madrid’s wall, again limited to four players, failed to adjust effectively, and Courtois misjudged his positioning.

Rice sent a ferocious, curling shot rocketing into the top right corner—pure power and precision combined.

Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard stood motionless in disbelief, hands on his head, as the crowd roared louder than ever than Rice’s first.

Rice became the first player to score two direct free-kicks in a Champions League knockout match, a feat made even more remarkable by the fact that he had never scored a free-kick in his previous 338 career games.

Mikel Merino sealed the 3-0 rout in the 75th minute with a clinical finish, but the night belonged to Rice. His brace not only gave Arsenal a three-goal cushion heading into the second leg at the Bernabeu on April 16 but also etched his name into club lore.

See more of the latest football news HERE.

Goalscorer Declan Rice to Amazon Prime: “That’s been the message from the manager. That was the message since the weekend. We need to be super convinced we can come and win this game. As a group we were really convinced. We needed to score in the second half.”

On his free-kick: “It’s been in the locker, but I’ve hit the wall too many times or it’s gone over the bar. Originally we were going to cross it and then I’ve just seen the wall and the goalkeeper’s position. So I thought just go for it. And Bukayo [Saka] said to just feel it.

“The second one I had the confidence. I hit it. It’s not going to hit me now because there’s another leg to go. 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.

“[Bukayo Saka] Look, to come back in the time he has done is unbelievable. He’s a top guy. We need to be ready for next week. The Bernabeu, what it’s like to play there. We need to be ready.”

Rice to Amazon Prime: “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.

“To beat Real Madrid in this competition. It’s a big night for us.

“The manager just said that then. Even if we’re 3-0 up the individual quality they have is scary. At the Bernabeu special things happen for them. We want to be in the Champions League semi-finals.”

Has David Beckham texted him?: “I’m not lucky enough to have his number. I’m just so happy.”

On his first free-kick: “We were saying to cross it. When they were over a little bit we saw the space Bukayo said if you feel it, go for it. I thought I’m going to take this. When you score a goal it’s the best feeling in the world. It didn’t make sense from that angle to cross the ball. It would have to be a delicate pass. And when I saw the wall. It didn’t make sense to cross. You know what, I’m happy I took it because it was magic.”

Rice to Amazon Prime…

Watching Arsenal’s set-piece coach celebrate: “He’s claiming for it but he’s told me to cross it!”

On his second free-kick: “It looks far out, you don’t even realise. Do you know what. We were going to touch and set it. Me and Martin [Odegaard]. But Mbappe was kind of stuck too close. But then I thought I’ve got the keeper’s side, I practice this so much, I was going to go for it. I had the confidence from the first one. If it went over the bar it wouldn’t matter.

“I don’t think it’s going to hit me what I’ve done tonight. It’s a historical night, and to score two goals against Real Madrid.

“We want to win this competition. But we have to take it one game at a time.

“Even at West Ham and ever since I’ve been here everyone’s been telling me to shoot more. It’s these little things and you’ve got to be in that mindset to score goals. I do have the ability to do it, but it’s a confidence thing.

“I don’t think I’ll sleep tonight. I’m delighted.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to Amazon Prime: “Beautiful. So happy so proud of the team. We have the opportunity to make a lot of people proud and we certainly have done that. I’ve never seen the stadium like this. Before the game they were already singing and already playing the game. For big European nights you need the big stadiums that create atmosphere and you need individual magic moments and there you go.

“That’s the beauty of whoever invented this sport. We hadn’t scored a free-kick since September, 2021. And tonight, against Real Madrid at home in the Champions League, we scored two in 13 minutes.”

On Arsenal’s set-piece coach celebrating the goal: “He can claim it if he wants, it doesn’t matter. It’s incredible.

“If there’s a player who can do it, how clean he strikes it it’s Declan. But you have to execute it at the highest level. And against one of the best keeper’s in the world as well. It’s amazing.”

On Bukayo Saka’s performance: “He was key. Again he elevates the level of the team. There’s a fear factor every time he’s on the ball. Team step off him and that creates space. [On him being substituted] He’s fine, I think it was a kick.

“OK. We need to go there. We know we will have to step up again and we will try to win it.

“It’s another step in the right direction as a team. We have to make another one and replicate what we’ve done tonight.”

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti to Amazon Prime: “The result means that Arsenal were much better than us. The game was a bit different. For 60 minutes the game was level, and then they shoot two fantastic free-kicks. The game it changes. Now it will be very difficult in the second leg. But we have to try.

“The reaction, mentally we went down. We had a problem in the final 30 minutes of the game.”

On Real Madrid never overturning a three-goal first leg deficit in their history: “There is always a first time. You have to try. The only thing you can do together is to try, and we will try.

“They are a really good team. Compact all the time and good on the ball. They are a good team. I said this yesterday. No news.

“The comeback starts tonight.”

Arsenal’s Mikel Merino talking to Amazon Prime: “We were talking in the dressing room about keeping the pace and tempo, obviously with the help of the crowd on our side. The second half was amazing, we played with full gas from the side. When this side plays like that the crowd go with us.”

On Declan Rice’s free-kicks: “We had a few free-kicks in the past week that we didn’t score. He has one of the best shooting abilities that i’ve seen in my career. I’m not surprised, maybe you are. Hopefully more will come in the future.”

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, speaking to Amazon Prime: “We were nowhere near it. That’s the fact and Arsenal were really good. I know two of their goals were free-kicks but they could have had way more. There is a second leg and that’s what we’re holding on to. We need something really special, something crazy really but one place where crazy things happen is our house. 90 more minutes at home to pull something out of the bag.

“They’re two great pieces of individual quality and if it wasn’t for them, they still have other chances. We got punished and that happens at top-level football.

“In these games, you need to create more. Very rarely do you come to a place like this score one goal and take your lead back home. They reacted really well to the transition. We didn’t do enough on the ball to threaten.

“We’re still alive, we’ve got 90 mins of football and anything can happen at the Bernabeu.”

Twitter users reacted as fan footage emerges of Declan Rice’s TWO worldie free-kicks in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid…

@COYIronscom: Could never hate him, he left to do exactly what he did tonight on the biggest stage. Take satisfaction knowing that we produced one of the best midfielders in this generation.

@DelvinMCS: So if Declan has been able to do this why the hell has odegard been taking and wasting free kicks

@HHHurst: That second one is top 5 free kicks ever … don’t care

@nathan__jamess: Pick that out

@Markoneill010: My brain could not comprehend those free kicks live in the stadium… WOW

@FemSubFinSub: I don’t even think I’m being dramatic or biased when I say these are up there with being two of the best free kicks I’ve ever seen 🩷

@SheikhKhaledd: This has to be one of the best free kicks i’ve seen btw, second one is right where the spiders live.

@Brightonian_: Fair play to Rice… Exceptional free kicks. Didn’t know he had this in him tbh.

@joeyhepp: Fairplay, both of these are incredible

@gazoctober: That second free kick is absolutely outrageous! 🔥☄️

@JonDenton: Could watch it all day. Fuck a rivalry this is art.

@LiamWallace98: That 2nd one could be the best free kick iv ever seen

@CCRevivalRule: Seriously…….. 2 of the best free kicks you’re likely to see….. never mind the fact they were in the same game. Superb by the lad

@jordanpomeroy00: Honestly that second free kick is one of the best I’ve ever seen. To do that against Courtois, unbelievable

@bwfc_elliot: These are two of the best free kicks that I’ve ever seen. They’re up there with the likes of Ronaldo v Portsmouth, Payet v Palace, Messi v Liverpool. Not quite Roberto Carlos though

@nickprowse1: Both unreal 😍

@JLAW_BROSKI: Fucking hell you won’t see 2 better free kicks in a game. Unreal

@_dancarpenter: Fucking unreal. Unforgettable night for Arsenal. Not jealous one bit

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