Rice on his incredible free-kick double against Real Madrid: ‘I’m a bit speechless’ | OneFootball

Declan Rice admits he has not been able to completely process his free-kick double against Real Madrid.

Rice’s double saw the Gunners thrash the reigning champions 3-0, with Mikel Merino adding the third late on.

The England international opened the scoring just before the hour mark, bending the ball around the wall and into the top corner to beat Thibaut Courtois.

And he sent Arsenal fans into dreamland when he scored another just over ten minutes later, curling the ball into the same corner from the opposite side.

It was the first, and second, free-kick Rice has scored in 339 games but the England midfielder insists it has been a long time coming.

“It’s been in the locker,” he joked, speaking to Amazon Prime. “But I’ve hit the wall too many times or it’s gone over the bar.

“Originally we were going to cross it but I just saw the wall and the goalkeeper’s position for the first one and just went for it. Bukayo said if I feel it (to hit it) and I just went round the outside of the wall and it went in.

“Then the second one I just had the confidence.

“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.

“I don’t know if it will ever sink in to be honest with you. I’ve just gone on my phone then and it’s gone crazy.

“I’m a bit speechless to be honest with you. I’m just so happy to score those two goals and it’s a nice bit of history for the club tonight to beat Real Madrid, such a historic club in this competition. It’s a big night for us.”

Bukayo Saka made his first start since returning from injury and caused Real Madrid all sorts of problems, including winning the first free-kick for Rice to score.

The Arsenal winger endured three months out with a hamstring injury and had only made two appearances off the bench prior to starting against Madrid.

And Rice hailed the impact of his team-mate so soon after returning.

He said: “It’s amazing (to have him back). You saw when he came on against Fulham the other night, that reception that he got was just incredible.

“He’s worked his socks off for three months and you could see how much it hurt him when he got injured because he’s played so many games at such a young age, and he’s got that hunger and desire to play football matches.

“Obviously he’s played three games now and we really need him for this back end of the season.”