Declan Rice's impact at Arsenal is being one of the greatest of the season. Since his arrival at the team, the English midfielder has made it clear that his evolution as a player under Mikel Arteta's orders has no limits.
One of the biggest surprises occurred against Real Madrid, when Rice surprised with two stunning free-kick goals. A historic achievement, as, according to Opta's data, he had never scored a direct free-kick goal in more than 300 professional matches.
The Change of Role at Arsenal
Before his arrival at the Gunners, during his time at West Ham, Declan Rice was not known for being a specialist in free-kick taking. At his former club, he always had teammates like Noble, Lanzini, Cresswell, or Benrahma, who were in charge of free-kicks.
Declan Rice, although with a good strike from outside the box, had never stood out for his ability to execute dangerous free-kicks. However, all that changed at Arsenal, where Arteta gave him the confidence to take on a more complete role in the game.
In the London team, free-kicks used to be Martin Ødegaard's responsibility. But in his match against Madrid, Declan Rice showed he was ready to step up.
With two impressive free-kick goals, he broke a historic four-year drought without goals of this type for the club. A milestone that, as Arteta would confirm later, hadn't happened since September 2021.
Arteta's Surprise
Arsenal's coach, Mikel Arteta, spoke about Declan Rice's unexpected achievement. "He had never scored from a free-kick, what were the odds?" the coach confessed in a press conference.
Arteta's words reflect the widespread surprise caused by those goals. Not only for the quality of the shots but for Declan Rice's precision and power, something unprecedented in his career.
Arteta has worked tirelessly on Rice's development, helping him become a complete midfielder. Under his direction, Rice has been liberated both in attack and defense, becoming a key piece in Arsenal's tactical scheme. This transformation has been crucial in his growth as a player and in his ability to take on new responsibilities on the field, such as taking free-kicks.
Declan Rice's free-kick goal has not only been an individual milestone but has also symbolized the confidence and potential that Arteta has managed to bring out of him. Rice's inclusion as a free-kick taker is yet another example of how the Spanish coach is developing his players.