Before Tuesday night’s Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates, Declan Rice had never scored a free kick in his professional career. But after Arsenal’s 3-0 first-leg win against Real Madrid, the England midfielder now has two to his name.
With the score still goalless after nearly an hour, Rice stepped up to take a rare set-piece opportunity. He found space around the wall and placed a curling shot past Thibaut Courtois in the 58th minute to give Arsenal a well-earned lead. Just twelve minutes later, he repeated the feat with another spectacular strike into the top corner, becoming the first player to score twice from free kicks in a Champions League knockout match.
The impact of both goals was immediate and dramatic. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and manager Mikel Arteta were left visibly stunned, while Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos, known for his own free-kick prowess, was seen watching from the stands with a glum expression. Speaking after the match, Rice admitted the magnitude of the moment hadn’t quite hit him yet, calling it a “historic night”.
Although Arsenal have built a reputation for danger from set pieces, they hadn’t scored from a direct free kick since September 2021. Typically, players like Bukayo Saka or Martin Odegaard are expected to take them, but Rice took control after spotting an opening near Madrid’s defensive wall.
Saka encouraged him to go for it, and the decision paid off. Rice later explained that Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover had actually signaled for a cross, but he felt a shot was the better option. The goal sparked wild celebrations, with Jover also caught up in the moment and later jokingly “claiming” the strike as his own. Arteta said he could take the credit if he wanted – it didn’t matter, it was “incredible”.
Rice’s second goal came under slightly different circumstances. He and Odegaard had planned to take it short, but Kylian Mbappe’s positioning caused a change of plan. Backed by confidence from his earlier effort, Rice decided to go for goal again. He had practiced these types of shots often but usually hit the wall or sent them over the bar. This time, everything came together.
Arteta praised the quality of Rice’s finishing, calling his technique “clean” and the execution exceptional – especially against a keeper like Courtois. Midfielder Mikel Merino, who scored Arsenal’s third goal, added that Rice’s shooting ability is among the best he has seen. Former defender Matthew Upson said Rice “single-handedly made the difference” on what he described as an unforgettable evening.
With a commanding 3-0 advantage, Arsenal heads to the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu in a strong position. It marks the twelfth time an English club has won a Champions League knockout first leg by three or more goals – and all previous eleven teams advanced.
Still, Rice and his teammates remain cautious. Real Madrid have a reputation for pulling off dramatic turnarounds at home, including their stunning comeback against Manchester City in 2022. Rice acknowledged the danger Madrid poses, saying their individual talent is “scary” and that special things tend to happen at the Bernabeu.
Despite the lead, Rice said Arsenal must stay grounded, focus on one match at a time, and keep their goal of lifting the trophy firmly in sight.
