When Real Madrid confirmed the roof would be closed for Wednesday’s game, a cheeky line made the rounds on social media: “Rice cooks better with the lid on.”
At the time, I thought no European night could top Declan Rice’s two stunning free kicks from the first leg. Those set pieces will, of course, be replayed for years to come. But somehow, he was even better in the Spanish capital.
If you only caught the highlights or glanced at the scoreline, you wouldn’t grasp the full scale of what the 26-year-old produced at the Bernabéu. You had to witness it. You had to feel it.
This tie could well be the turning point that this young Arsenal squad looks back on one day—the moment they realised they could truly compete on football’s grandest stage, under the brightest lights. It was also the night Declan Rice introduced himself to the world.
Yes, in the UK we’ve known for some time just how good he is. But now, every corner of the globe that follows the game will be talking about what he did to the reigning Champions of Europe.
He was everywhere.
Breaking up attacks, launching counters, and somehow still finding the energy to join in on those attacking surges. Need someone to charge down a dangerous free kick? Rice. Need a glancing header to clear a wicked cross? Rice. Need a voice to marshal the midfield, to organise and direct? Rice. Need someone to pull Partey aside after a reckless booking? Of course—Rice.
It bordered on comical how often a body would throw itself in front of the ball, and it was always him. Again and again.
Some will reduce football to simple outcomes. They’ll say these two legs only matter if we go on to lift the Champions League. But performances like this transcend results. Whatever comes next, we’ll always remember the night Declan Rice frustrated Real Madrid—so thoroughly, so defiantly—that he silenced a fanbase known for believing until the last second.
I don’t think he even realises what he’s just done. Declan Rice became famous in Madrid.
And on a pitch full of Galácticos, there wasn’t a single player you would have swapped him for. Not one.
Last week, I said Rice had become immortal. That it was a night no Arsenal fan would forget. I didn’t think I could offer a greater compliment.
But here goes…
Was that the best individual European performance ever produced by an Arsenal player?
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In my opinion, it was just the best individual Arsenal box-to-box midfielder in Europe, because Henry used to create magical striker moments in UCL
Rice played as if he was the tall version of the prime Cedric Kante, because of his stamina, work rate, ball control and passes
If he really has to play CDM against PSG due to Partey’s yellow cards, I hope Zinchenko will play the left-sided AM instead
@gai
I would play MLS there instead of Zinny. PSG have a young athletic squad reminiscent of Ten Haag’s Ajax a couple of years back. They would run through Zinny. Just saying.
Lewis Skelly will obviously start in place of Partey and It would be even good if Nwaneri in place of a struggling Odegaard.
Yea me too, nwaneri for Odegaard.
Infact if i’ll swap him for B. Fernando’s or wirt or musiala or palmer or rogers..
Personally, I wouldn’t drop the club captain for the most important game of the season so far for Nwaneri. That’s not to deride him, but he’s not an automatic starter. It’s been a very good season for him and MLS has also shown that age should not be an obstacle. However, I’d start Odegaard
Lewis-Skelly could play the left-sided AM role if Calafiori is fit
@Gai, Zinny is just too sloppy and fragile on the ball at times. Not good enough for PSG. I think Arteta would want to retain MLS on the left full back. Pathey was silly to have gotten himself a needless yellow card.
Most likely IMO, the coach will use Jorginho if fit. He has good
experience. Odegard needs to step up but I don’t think Nwaneri can replace him.
Yeah. Jorginho would likely play CDM, to keep Rice in the left-sided AM position
As much as I find him a snake I would have to say Fabregas performance against juve in 2005 or 2006 and that juve team was something else .
Lewis Skelly will obviously start in place of Partey and It would be even good if Nwaneri start in place of a struggling Odegaard.
There are other options that the manager can consider to replace Partey. MLS may be a remote option but it is more likely that he will continue at LB. Nwaneri is a talent sure but he is not at a level to replace Odegaard at this point.
I would have to agree Naftali, all the players bar Odegaard played there part in both the Madrid games. But our club captain continues to keep his place when he’s not really bringing anything to the side.
When I watch him, he seems like a frustrated ballerina with the amount of times he doe’s needless pirouettes. And his constant nose wiping followed by him brushing his hands through his hair.
For me the club captain should be Gabriel or Rice.
Being captain is all that’s keeping him in the team at present surely. It certainly isn’t his performances that’s for sure.
Odegarrd is a weird one
He didn’t shy away and always demanded the ball but it was like he other thinks his final pass?
Just needs to find his confidence
Totally agree
He is not living up to the heights of last season but he still has a lot to offer
He does need to find his.mojo a d confidence again but that doesn’t stop him giving 100%
We have had captain in the past where they have been the standout players …. Aubes being one but would the whole team run through brick walls for him. Don’t think so. If MO asked i believe they would
A d there lies the difference
We are better with him in the team and not out
Onwards and upwards
Hi Dan
Will you be doing the prediction game for the weekend?
Cheers
Yeah I submitted it last night Sue
So whenever Admin posts it
Odegaard does an incredible amount of pressing which is crucial to how we play. Take Odegaard out of the team, and you’d be surprised how easier it becomes for the opposition to play out from the back. Without Havertz who is the other pressing monster, Odegaard has to play. He initiates our press and if you’re keen, you’ll notice he’s pointing to organise his teammates like the coach on the pitch.
Taking the arm band from him without a proper reason could cause problems in the dressing room. I’m not even sure the players would support that because they are happy with him as their captain. I think he’s a great ambassador of the club and it speaks volumes how he works hard even when other aspects of his game aren’t great at the moment.
Hit the nail on the head. I’m sure Declan would also make a fine captain but what’s the point of fixing something that ain’t broken?
To say that Odegaard brings “nothing” to the side and did not contribute is quite ridiculous really. Rice and Partey put in some quite exceptional performances but Odegaard put in a huge amount of work himself. He was also organising the team and set the tone for the press. He is obviously not as physically strong as the other midfielders which impacts on how he plays.
Here is something to consider, Odegaard ran over 6km in the first half of the match against Real Madrid. This is our main creative midfielder. Where else do you get that kind of commitment?
Sorry, but the way you have been attempting to discredit Odegaard is disappointing.
David,
Yippee, he runs around a lot. We need more than that, he’s meant to be our creative player. I don’t see him creating anything.
All I see is the amount of needless pirouettes, and constant wiping of his nose followed by him then running his hands through his hair.
While he doe’s do a lot regarding shutting down the opposition. I say again, he’s meant to be our creative midfielder. Something he’s failing in miserably. 🙄🤦♂️🤷♂️
The Ozil lovers also used to love to say he run x amount of kms
While the Ozil haters said he stood still and never appreciated his footballing brain.
Your claim is that he brings nothing to the side which is patently untrue. Most fans realise that he has not reached the levels he has in previous seasons. However, he is still essential to the way we play and consistently puts in the kind of shifts you rarely see from an attacking midfielder.
Derek, so you think we beat RM home and away with a player who isn’t bringing anything to the side?
He’s not the firce he was before his injury that’s true, but to say he’s only in the team because he’s the captain is laughable.
Ken1945,
while being good at closing down the opposition in the press is commendable. What I find laughable is that certain people on here seem to big that up over him actually being the creative Midfielder that he’s supposed to be.
Are you really telling me that our club captain is in the side purely for his closing down skills. And that we should all be gassed up that he can run around a lot.
I expect my teams captain and supposedly the most creative player we’ve got😂🤣, to do just that and create. Something that he’s failing to do on a consistent basis.
How many goals has he scored this season, how many assists has he got.
But don’t worry people, he runs around a lot. You can’t make this stuff up. 🙄🤦♂️🤷♂️
The legendary Frenchman was lethal in Europe in his days and may have played one his best games on this very same Turf.
This could very well be a watershed moment for the Englishman and Arsenal by extension in terms of a collective effort and performance in a.
top European Competitions
The saying that Rice cooks better with the lid on seems to have fit the script well, as the former West Ham man, started this campaign way below his high standards we had come to accustomed to see, so maybe the fans were right,
Over two legs in a midfield consisting of Bellingham, Modric, Camavinga, Valverde and Tchouameni.
Rice showed why he was signed for 105m pounds.
Merino.
Martinelli. Odegaard. Saka.
Skelly. Rice.
Tierney. Kiwior. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
Told you guys at the start of the season MLS will shine this season! A bit way more than I’ve expected. He’s got a great upbringing from his family and what a mentality monster! Partey surely will be greatly miss. He’s on another level this year. Controlling and dictating the play way more better. What a shame we’re going to lose him next year.
Hopefully the team will be doing alright without him cause we’ll be playing at home for the first leg.
My pick would be;
Raya
White Saliba Kiwior Timber
Rice Skelly
Odegard
Saka Merino Martineli
Hopefully this will be our year to lift the first ever CL trophy. The team have to be fully focused on this.
COYG!
Rice was colossal. With Partey suspended vs PSG, I hope Jorginho will be fit and ready. I think he’s the natural replacement, he’s done that when called upon and he hasn’t put a foot wrong. His experience in the UCL would come in handy.
I prefer Rice to be the captain of Arsenal. Both the principal and vice captains are not vocal. They don’t argue enough with refs. Look the penalty v Madrid the VAR themselves gave it aftet long deliberation. No one from Arsenal asked for pen when Merino was pulled down. Other top teams would have circled the ref demanding pen putting too much pressure on the ref to review the footage. Rice for the captain makes sense esp in epl as he is Englishman speaking the language. Rice has good experiences with captaincy at West Ham culminating in winning the UEFA Conference League. No disrespect to Ode and Saka I ask Rice to be captain next season. The issue to replace Rice should first come from the incumbent captains as it maybe difficult for Arteta to engineer that overhaul. Win-win-win scenario it must be. In England team who is next to Kane? Maybe Rice not sure.
Yes, Rice should be the captain. Blind eye can tell but odegaard must leave (the only reason arteta will strip odegard off captain duty will be coz if his performance like aubameyang) or he finds his mojo back and start dictating game coz the team is living him behind technically. Everybody is stepping up, big kudos to kiwior
Rice would likely be a good captain and most would probably not quibble if he was. However, some of your reasoning for wanting a change does not make sense.
Great one liner and two legendary performances both on an individual and team level. We need more of this kind of inspiration from Rice. Points in the EPL are required to secure second place,as well as chasing glory in Europe. He will need some help though. Time to stand up Captain Odegaard.
It all come down to consistency. Consistently producing these kind of performances is what separate the champions and legends from the rest.
If you look at this generation top players such as Salah, De Bruyne, Mbappe etc you will find it hard to single out their best ever performances because they have done it week in week out for many seasons.
Same can be said to our own legends such as the greats Thierry, Patrick and Dennis etc.
Consistency is what has been the major failure of the substandard manager and his players and the main reason for our lack of success.
Nevertheless, a second place finish and CL semis can be classed as a successful season as it stands.
Looking at the remaining opponents I can say we are the favorites to win the whole thing but I dare not dream for fear of disappointment because of inconsistency. Something which I have seen many times before.
HH,
And a Semi-Final of the League Cup don’t forget.🤣😂👍😉