Arsenal hero Declan Rice admits he won’t sleep after scoring twice in the Gunners’ 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The Gunners put on a spectacular performance in their quarter-final first leg at the Emirates, with Mikel Merino netting the third goal of the night.
The result left North London in raptures – at least the red half of it – and Rice was seen soaking up the moment at full-time.
Speaking after the game, 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.
“To beat Real Madrid in this competition. It’s a big night for us.
“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.”
A pretty good time to bring it out of the locker 🔥#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/bMB46E1tn4
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Rice elaborated on his free-kick, adding: “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.
“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.”
