Thierry Henry remarked that an Arsenal player accomplished something he had never witnessed before during their 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at the Emirates on Tuesday.
Arsenal secured a commanding lead ahead of next Wednesday’s return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, thanks to Declan Rice’s brace from free kicks and Mikel Merino’s composed finish.
Following the match, Rice, 26, spoke with CBS Sports’ panel, which included Henry, 47, Micah Richards, Jamie Carragher, and Kate Scott (formerly Abdo).
“The way you played tonight was incredible,” Henry said. “It seemed like you had a point to prove. I don’t know to whom—your teammates, the fans, or someone else—but you were absolutely possessed.”
Reflecting on his performance, Rice admitted, “I probably should have had two goals in the first half. I didn’t make the run for a simple tap-in, and then there was the header. But I played fearlessly, determined to make a statement—and we did.”
Rice went on to explain the thought process behind his first free kick, crediting Bukayo Saka for encouraging him to take the shot.
“Initially, our set-piece coach had planned for us to deliver a cross to the back post,” Rice said. “But as I stood with Bukayo, I felt it wasn’t the right decision. I analyzed the wall, spotted the space past Courtois, and told Bukayo, ‘It feels right to go for goal.’ He supported the decision, and I took the risk. As soon as I struck it, I knew it had a chance—it turned into one of those unforgettable moments.”
Arsenal now shift focus to the Premier League, where they host Brentford on Saturday before preparing for the second leg. Meanwhile, Real Madrid will travel to face Alaves on Sunday.
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