Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has hailed Declan Rice after his amazing performance in the 3-0 Gunners’ win in the Uefa Champions League quarter final first leg against Real Madrid on Tuesday 8 April 2025 at Emirates Stadium.
The Spanish boss said, Rice is a “very determined” player after the English defensive midfielder scored two beautiful free-kicks for the home side against Carlo Ancelotti’s Los Blancos.
Rice hit the back of the net twice in the 58th and 70th minutes and Mikel Merino made it three in the 75th minute for the Gunners.
Arteta said, “I’m very proud” following the performance of his boys at the Emirates Stadium, adding, “we had a very complete and big performance collectively and you need that in the organisation and what we had to do to dominate the game and to create Madrid problems”.
On Merino’s performance, Arteta said, “it’s again his commitment, his desire to learn the position, to constantly be thinking of what he can offer to the team.”
Arsenal will travel to Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spin for the second leg of the UCL quarter final tie against Real Madrid.
According to Arsenal.com, in his post-victory comments, Arteta said:
On tonight’s performance:
“I’m very proud, we had a very complete and big performance collectively and you need that in the organisation and what we had to do to dominate the game and to create Madrid problems. This night is about all two factors, one is the atmosphere that we created 15 minutes before kick-off is something I haven’t seen before, so playing with that energy, with that commitment with your crowd makes a huge difference. And then magic moments, individual moments that decide all matches and the first two goals of Declan sums up the night.”
On Rice’s success from free-kicks:
“He’s been very determined because we have talked in the last few months that we haven’t scored a direct free-kick since September 2021, Burnley away, Martin Odegaard. So it’s been a long time, and to score two goals in 12 minutes of that magnitude of that quality from the same player, a player that has never scored a free-kick before in his career, I mean, what are the odds? He’s done it tonight. I’m a big believer that the crowd played something with the energy that they put in and it helped us massively in the game.”
On why Saka and Rice were subbed:
“I think Dec had an issue with his foot, I don’t know if it was a tackle or what it was, and Bukayo was after he got tackled on the foul, I think he had a knock and he had to go.”
On Mikel Merino scoring again:
“With Mikel it’s again his commitment, his desire to learn the position, to constantly be thinking of what he can offer to the team, and the team adapting to his qualities to try to deliver the best outcome.”
On reaching this level against Real Madrid:
“You have to continue to make steps, and tonight we have won in the right direction. Now it’s half-time, and now we have to go to the Bernabeu and we’re going to have to elevate the level again to be the team that we want to be there, and to prepare the game to win it.”
Photo: Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, following his side’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the UCL showdown at Emirates Stadium. arsenal.com
