Forget Declan Rice… eagle-eyed Arsenal fans think set-piece coach Nicolas Jover was real ‘hero’ vs Real Madrid
DECLAN RICE scored two spectacular free-kicks against Real Madrid – but some Arsenal fans believe Nicolas Jover was the real hero.
Arsenal brushed aside the Spanish giants 3-0 with a magnificent display at the Emirates.
Rice will go down in folklore after scoring two astonishing free-kicks in the second half.
They are the first direct free-kicks the midfielder has scored at club level, with Rice becoming a talisman from set-pieces this season for the Gunners.
However some Gooners think he would not have pulled off his strikes without the assistance of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover.
The Frenchman was spotted on the touchline before the free-kick was taken and he performed a whipping gesture.
Fans took that to mean he was advising Rice to whip the ball around the Real Madrid wall, which he did to find the net.
Many praised Jover for his contribution, with one fan saying: “Mr.Jover makes the magic happen.”
Another added: “NICOLAS JOVER MY HEROOOOO FOR LIFE.”
And a third wrote: “Nico Jover statue at the emirate by next week pls.”
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However Rice revealed after the match that his set-piece coach was actually instructing him to cross the ball to the back post.
He said: “He’s telling me to cross… it just didn’t make sense and you know I’m happy I took it because it’s a magic moment.
“He was telling me to cross!… I know [he defied everyone]. That’s what I mean Bukayo said if you feel it go for it.
“I thought you know what, I looked at the ball and at the keeper and thought ‘I can bend this around the outside’.”
Rice then laughed at Jover after watching footage of the coach celebrating his goal, with the England star claiming he took credit despite telling him to cross the ball.
Arsenal ratings vs Real Madrid as Declan Rice's free-kick thunderbolts earn him an ELEVEN out of 10
BEND it like Beckham? More like bend it like Declan…
It was a set-piece clinic from the Arsenal midfielder as he scored the first free-kicks of his career against Real Madrid – and the first player in Champions League history to score multiple direct free-kicks in the same knockout stage game.
Thibaut Courtois was on hand to save Real Madrid in a fast paced first half as he pulled off a fine double save to deny a Rice header and a follow-up effort from Gabriel Martinelli.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 58th minute as England star Rice whipped in a sensational free-kick.
Rice then sent the Emirates into the stratosphere with as he added a second with an even better free-kick from the left side of the goal which he rifled into the top right corner.
Mikel Merino then swept a devastating third into the bottom corner from a low cross to put the cherry on a remarkable night.
Rice’s epic showing was enough to earn him an unprecedented ELEVEN in our player ratings.
Here’s how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated the rest of the Gunners…