Real Madrid suffered a blow out at the Emirates Stadium with Declan Rice’ s magical free kicks which set Arsenal up for a 3-0 flattering first leg quarter final Champions League win.
Rice who had never scored from a direct free kick, shocked Real Madrid with two free kicks goals before Mikel Merino scored a late goal to give Arsenal the huge advantage.
Speaking on the stunning strikes by Rice, Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois said he wasn’t expecting Rice to score.
“I thought I’d positioned the wall well,” Courtois told Movistar.
“I usually put an extra man in. I take responsibility for that, I could have put an extra man in, but I thought [Rice] wouldn’t get as much curl on it. And the second goal is a great goal.
“They were unnecessary fouls, when there was no danger.”
Also coach Carlo Ancelloti added
“No-one expected Rice to score those free kicks.”
Arsenal must now hold their advantage when they visit the Santiago Bernabéu next week. Real Madrid have a history of dramatic European comebacks.
Ancelotti’s team produced successive comebacks against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City to reach the final.
“We have to be honest, we have to be humble, take our medicine, and anything can happen in the return [leg] … History’s proven it, we’ve scored a lot of goals in games before. It’s not within the mentality of this club to give up and roll over,” said midfielder midfielder Jude Bellingham.
