Former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys criticized an Arsenal staff member following their 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
Declan Rice shone with two stunning free-kicks before Mikel Merino added a third, giving Mikel Arteta’s side the upper hand ahead of next Wednesday’s return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. Even Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham praised Arsenal’s display, while Arteta remained composed after the final whistle.
“We need to go there, step up again, and prepare to win,” Arteta said. “It’s another step forward for us as a team. We have the ability to do it, and we have to replicate tonight’s performance at the Bernabeu.”
However, not everyone was entirely positive about Arsenal’s performance. Keys, now with beIN Sports, called for a staff member’s dismissal.
“Brilliant night for The Gunners,” Keys wrote on X. “I’m glad they didn’t overdo it at the end – you never know with Madrid. One other thing – if I employed a set-piece coach & we hadn’t scored direct from a FK since Sept 21, I’d be sacking him – not celebrating with him!”
Keys’ remark followed Arteta’s revelation that Rice’s goal was Arsenal’s first direct free-kick since September 2021 and the midfielder’s first in 338 games.
Arsenal’s set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, is often seen near the touchline during dead-ball situations. Despite Keys’ criticism, Arsenal has significantly improved their set-piece goal tally this season.
After the match, Rice joked that Jover was still trying to take credit for the goals.
“He’s claiming it, but he told me to cross it,” Rice said, explaining how Bukayo Saka encouraged him to shoot instead.
Arteta laughed off the debate, saying, “He can claim it if he wants—it doesn’t matter. It’s incredible.”
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