Arsenal hero Declan Rice has revealed that he ignored an instruction from set-piece coach Nicolas Jover before his first wonder goal against Real Madrid at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta's men are in with a magnificent chance of reaching this season's Champions League semi-finals thanks to an unforeseen 3-0 trouncing of the holders, where Rice scored the first two free kicks of his professional career.
The England international firstly lined up a set-piece 25.9m from goal after Bukayo Saka was felled by David Alaba, and he proceeded to whip a sublime effort around the wall and into the far side of the net.
Replays from the touchline showed set-piece coach Jover - now a cult hero among Arsenal fans - gesticulating a curving motion, seemingly suggesting to Rice to try to bend his strike in that exact manner.
However, speaking to Amazon Prime after the win, the midfielder confirmed that Jover instead wanted him to chip a cross to the back post, a request that fell on deaf ears as Rice beat Thibaut Courtois all ends up.
Rice confirms Jover wanted him to cross free kick
© Imago
"He's claiming for it but he's told me to cross it!" Rice said, before also reflecting on his second astonishing set-piece, one that saw him achieve a feat never previously managed in the Champions League.
Standing over the ball on the other side of the pitch this time, Rice's next free kick was also nothing short of perfect; the true definition of a postage-stamp strike which rippled the top corner of the net.
That sensational goal saw Rice become the first player to score two free kicks in one Champions League knockout game, and just the fifth to score two in one Champions League match at any stage.
"It looks far out, you don't even realise," Rice said when watching a replay of his second set-piece. "We were going to touch and set it. Me and Martin [Odegaard]. But Mbappe was kind of stuck too close.
"But then I thought I've got the keeper's side, I practice this so much, I was going to go for it. I had the confidence from the first one. If it went over the bar it wouldn't matter."
Mikel Arteta reacts to Rice free-kick magic
© Imago
After Rice's second free kick flew into the back of the net, Arteta turned back to his bench with his hands clasped behind his head, sharing the same stunned reaction that Martin Odegaard displayed.
The Gunners boss was also asked about Jover's involvement in Rice's free-kick routines, to which he replied: "He can claim it if he wants, it doesn't matter. It's incredible.
"If there's a player who can do it, how clean he strikes it it's Declan. But you have to execute it at the highest level. And against one of the best keepers in the world as well. It's amazing."
Mikel Merino put the icing on the cake for Arsenal following Rice's two contributions, although the die is far from cast ahead of next Wednesday's juicy return fixture at the Bernabeu.
However, Arteta's side still have Premier League matters to attend to before then, as their next game comes at home to London rivals Brentford on Saturday.
Ben Knapton
