Jack Wilshere describes Declan Rice using just one word after his display for Arsenal vs Real Madrid

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Arsenal thrashed Real Madrid 3-0 at the Emirates, and Declan Rice was the star of the show.

The Gunners’ inexperience at this stage of the Champions League was a bit of a concern ahead of the game on Tuesday night. Carlo Ancelotti even suggested before the game that Arsenal were at a disadvantage because their players weren’t used to playing in quarter-finals.

But, none of that mattered at the Emirates, as Arsenal were dominant for most of the game and deservedly picked up a 3-0 win.

Rice, who scored two stunning free-kicks in the second-half, won the Player of the Match award, and everyone associated with Arsenal has been raving about him since.

Jack Wilshere describes Declan Rice using one word after Arsenal beat Real Madrid

Arsenal smashed their transfer record to sign Rice from West Ham in 2023.

The Gunners agreed to pay an initial £100 million for his signature and an additional £5 million in potential add-ons.

There were a few eyebrows raised at the time because of the price, but Rice has been so good for Arsenal that nobody has said a word about his transfer fee since.

Rice was absolutely amazing for Arsenal from the start against Real Madrid. He was solid on the ball, made some good runs and worked tirelessly across the pitch.

He was unlucky not to score from a header earlier in the game, but he more than made up for it with two outrageous free-kicks in the second half.

Those goals, combined with Mikel Merino’s strike, have put Arsenal in a really strong position ahead of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

After the game, Wilshere took to his Instagram Story and hailed Rice using just one word: “Bargain!”

Declan Rice matches one old Arsenal player’s record

Rice had played over 300 games in his career for West Ham and Arsenal but had never scored from a direct free-kick.

Against Real Madrid on Tuesday, he did it twice in the space of 12 minutes.

With his brace, Rice became the first Arsenal player to score two goals from outside the box in the same game since Nicolas Pepe’s strikes against Vitoria in 2019.

Ironically, Pepe’s goals were brilliant second-half free kicks too, and Arsenal won the game back then as well.

The 3-0 lead gives Arsenal a huge advantage, but it’s not over yet. Rice and his teammates will have to go to the Santiago Bernabeu and finish the job next week.

The Englishman will be key again for Mikel Arteta.