Owen Hargreaves hails 'too perfect' Declan Rice free-kick after 'dream' brace against Real Madrid in UEFA Champions League quarter-final

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Declan Rice scored two of Arsenal's three goals as they ran out 3-0 winners against Real Madrid on Tuesday night in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates. Speaking to TNT Sports, former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves was full of praise for Rice's free-kick brace, while Joe Cole said the win had thrown the Champions League wide open.

Highlights: Rice magic as Arsenal stun Real Madrid on famous night

Video credit: TNT Sports

Owen Hargreaves hailed Declan Rice’s free kicks as "too perfect" as his set-piece brace propelled Arsenal to a 3-0 home win over Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

Three goals in the second half - two from Rice and one from Mikel Merino - gave Arsenal a commanding cushion ahead of next week’s second leg in Madrid, shown live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Many had backed Carlo Ancelotti’s men to grab a win in London, but Mikel Arteta guided his side to a dominant performance at the Emirates, helped in no small part by their inspirational England midfielder.

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His first free-kick on 58 minutes whipped expertly around the Real Madrid wall to leave Thibaut Courtois struggling to get across to stop the ball, and Hargreaves compared him to a former England icon.

He told TNT Sports: "The set piece coach gets a lot of love. Let's give Declan Rice a lot of love. Out of nowhere, he turns into David Beckham."

However, the second goal was perhaps even better, with the 70th-minute strike curling into the top corner to Courtois’ left, with the Belgian able to watch the ball’s flight for most of, if not all the way.

'This is Rice's night!' - Watch as Arsenal star pulls off second 'incredible' free-kick

Video credit: TNT Sports

Former Manchester United midfielder Hargreaves reached for the superlatives to explain how impressive the goal was.

"The second one is, when you see it, you think, ‘No way.’ It's too perfect, against one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

"To be fair, it's the keeper's corner. but even if he'd had his double in the corner, he wouldn't have saved it.

"You dream of that. Everyone thinks he's going left, he whips it into the top right. It's so inch-perfect into this corner.

"He doesn't get anywhere near it. It's impossible to save. What amazing timing from Dec, to do it in such a big moment. Absolute brilliance, it really was."

'Absolutely brilliant!' - Watch as Rice puts Arsenal ahead with 'incredible' free-kick

Video credit: TNT Sports

Alongside him in the studio, former Chelsea and West Ham winger Joe Cole said that the free kick and its impact had thrown the tournament wide open, with favourites Real Madrid, who had Eduardo Camavinga sent off late on, now struggling to stay in the competition.

"The second one is as good a free kick as you'll see. It's opened up the Champions League," he said, before adding: "This game ain’t finished, but what a performance from Arsenal."

Stream the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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