Just when you thought Declan Rice couldn’t hit a free-kick any sweeter, he went and did it again 12 minutes later.
Rice had gone over 400 career games without scoring a single free-kick before thumping two past Thibaut Courtois to propel Arsenal to a famous night against the mighty Real Madrid. Talk about picking your moments.
The anatomy of every free-kick is different, and Rice’s pair were spectacular for distinct reasons.
The whip on the first was absurd, with the ball sent careering way outside the width of the posts before veering dramatically back inside them just in time. As for the second, Rice hit that sweet spot between power and accuracy to perfection, rattling the ball into the top corner. It flew in like a rocket.
“I knew as soon as I hit the first one and it went in, it was my first ever free-kick [goal] and then I just had the confidence over the second one,” Rice said.
“They are magic moments that are going to sit with me forever. A really, really special night.”
If you somehow missed the goals, sit back and enjoy them below:
Declan Rice hit TWO worldie free-kicks vs Real Madrid
So nice he did it twice
pic.twitter.com/zg5CzlQQNh
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 8, 2025
So which one was better? The i Paper canvassed a variety of opinions from pundits, fans and experts to try and reach a conclusion.
The tactical analyst
Adrian Clarke, ex-player and now writer and broadcaster for Arsenal, the Premier League and others
You just can’t beat a ‘postage stamp’ free kick in my opinion, so Declan’s second strike – a hit of absolute perfection – is just my favourite of the two. The way he committed to striking the ball as hard as possible, but doing so with such extraordinary precision, was simply flawless. No keeper on the planet would have saved it.
The first free-kick was Roberto Carlos-esque in its wicked swerve, so it was fitting that the great Brazilian was inside the stadium to witness it. The wall was poorly set up by Courtois, but the whip produced was exceptional. It was almost disrespectful of Rice to try and beat the brilliant Belgian from that range, but he backed himself and thank goodness he did!
Verdict: Second
The ex-Gunner
Perry Groves, 205 appearances for Arsenal and a two-time league title winner
I think I preferred the second one. The first one, as brilliantly executed as it was, you could see that Courtois hadn’t lined the wall up properly. I think he gave Declan Rice a big gap to try and bend it around which he did. The execution was first class.
The second one was a bit more central and there’s only one place that he can put it and that is right between the crossbar and the post. To hit it with the pace, precision, technique and get the curl and dip with the instep of his right foot was out of this world.
I think it’s up there – and I know I’m a biased Gooner! – as one of the greatest free-kicks I’ve ever seen. The first one, the stadium erupted, but the second was more of a gasp of disbelief.
Verdict: Second
The season ticket holder
Meirion Yusuf-George, North Bank stand
For me, it was the second one. I sit right behind the goal in the North Bank, and I’d already lost it when the first went in. People in the crowd knew that was his first ever free-kick, but even so, when he put the ball down for the second, there was a weird sense of inevitability.
Watching it dip into the top corner on the keeper’s side – it couldn’t have been more in the corner. It’s a goal I’ll remember for years.
Verdict: Second
The street artist
Northbanksy, Arsenal fan and street artist famous for his murals outside the Emirates
I liked the first one best because it was so unexpected and it was the game changer.
If you listen to a lot of pundits they’ll tell you Arsenal supposedly don’t have game changers in this squad. As Rice was lining up to take it my son said, “You know, I think he is going to go direct on this one”.
And I said, “My boy, the last time we scored from a direct free-kick, you were nine years old – you’re nearly 15 now. We don’t score goals from direct free-kick…”
Verdict: First
The commentator
Harry Symeou, freelance commentator and broadcaster for talkSPORT, BBC London and others
They’re both stunning free-kicks but the first one stands out for me. The second was certainly more aesthetically pleasing because it flew into the top corner but the curve and velocity on the strike for the first was poetry in motion. Beautiful, beautiful goal.
Verdict: First
The free-kick specialist
Bartek Sylwestrzak, specialist ball-striking coach who has worked with Brentford and players from Europe’s top five leagues
The second shot is technically better. It is powerful and accurate – a nice goal. Courtois stood close to the middle of the goal which would invite any intelligent taker to hit the ball far post without having to worry about the wall.
Arsenal did well to put a wall of their players in front of him to obstruct his view and this could explain why Courtois’ reaction was slow.
Verdict: Second
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