Mikel Arteta admitted that Declan Rice had been dying to take a free-kick for Arsenal prior to his double against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
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Article continues below
- Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0
- Rice with pair of stunning free-kicks
- Arteta opens up on conversations with midfielder
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- Getty Images Sport
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Gunners ripped through the reigning kings of Europe on Tuesday night, prevailing 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. Rice broke the deadlock with an incredible free-kick just before the hour mark, and then came up with another marvellous set piece goal 12 minutes later. Mikel Merino rounded off the scoring with a quarter of an hour remaining.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Though Arsenal have been renowned for their proficiency on set pieces this season, they hadn't scored from a direct free-kick in nearly four years before Rice beat Thibaut Courtois in the Madrid net. At his post-match press conference, Arteta claimed Rice had been chomping at the bit to become their primary free-kick taker.
- Getty Images Sport
WHAT ARTETA SAID
Arteta said of Rice: "He's been really determined because we have talked in the last few months. We haven't scored a direct free kick since September 2021, Burnley away, Martin Odegaard.
"It's been a long time, so to score two goals in 12 minutes of that magnitude and quality from the same player – a player that has never scored a free kick before in his career – what are the odds? But he's done it tonight."
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WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?
Arsenal fans will inevitably have one eye on the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu next Wednesday. Before that, they must navigate a Premier League clash at home to Brentford this Saturday – Bees boss Thomas Frank was spotted on a scouting mission at the Emirates and was in attendance to see the Gunners' destruction of Madrid.
