DECLAN RICE had injured Arsenal team-mate Gabriel pleading to have his right foot following his pair of stunning free-kicks against Real Madrid.
Rice scored two sensational set-pieces at the Emirates to help the Gunners to a
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His first beautifully curled around the wall past keeper Thibaut Courtois while
Mikel Merino put the game – and possibly the tie – to bed before the end but
And even crocked defender Gabriel – – was left stunned.
He told Rice: “Give me your right foot, please, please, please. Come here, Dec. Give me, give me. Unbelievable brother!”
Rice had only taken 12 free-kicks as a professional without scoring – but two came in one match.
He 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.”
Arsenal now travel to the Spanish capital next Wednesday in the return tie with a healthy lead thanks to talisman Rice.
Manager Mikel Arteta said: “Declan’s been very determined because we have said in the last few months that we have not scored a direct free-kick in three-and-half years.
“So, to score two goals in 12 minutes of that magnitude and of that quality from the same player, a player that has never scored a free-kick before in his career, what are the odds?
“This night was all about two factors; one is the atmosphere that we created 15 minutes before kick-off with something I haven’t seen before.
“And then the magic, the individual moments that decide all matches. And the first two goals from Declan sums up the night.”;
