Kolkata: Declan Rice had played 402 matches for both club and country without ever scoring from a direct free-kick. But in a crucial moment, he found himself facing the Real Madrid wall and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from 30 yards out. Rice's shot soared past Federico Valverde and curled into the net under the night sky. “As soon as it left my foot, I knew it had a chance,” he remarked. Courtois admitted he didn’t expect Rice to bend it like that.

The Champions League has seen some thrilling second-leg comebacks, like Barcelona's against Paris St-Germain and Liverpool's against them. Real Madrid has never defeated Arsenal, but Carlo Ancelotti reminded everyone that “in football, anything can happen” after their 0-3 loss in London on Tuesday. The defending champions and record 15-time winners are well aware of this.

Mikel Arteta urged Arsenal to “make it happen,” encouraging each player to believe they could be the game-changer. Rice's knee slide, nod, and finger on the badge showed he had that belief. He even disregarded the advice of set-piece coach Nikolas Jover, who had helped the team score 21 goals from set pieces this season, opting instead to take a shot. This marked Arsenal’s first direct free-kick goal since September 2021.

Rice's confidence was so high that he did it again. From 25 yards out, he unleashed a shot that curled into the top corner. Thierry Henry commented on Paramount + that even ten goalkeepers wouldn’t have stopped it. Scoring in the 58th and 70th minutes during the biggest night at the Emirates since Arsenal's move in 2006, Rice joined an elite group of five players, including Rivaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., and Hakim Ziyech, who have netted twice from direct free-kicks in a Champions League match.

Since the 2018-19 season, Odegaard has taken the most direct free-kicks for Arsenal, with 32 to his name according to “The Athletic,” but he wasn’t the one taking them on Tuesday. Rice played a key role in Mikel Merino’s goal in the 75th minute and nearly scored a hat-trick himself.

Real Madrid came to north London looking for a solid away performance, aiming to withstand pressure and utilize the speed and talent of their latest star-studded lineup. Things might have turned out differently if Kylian Mbappe hadn’t shot straight at David Raya after being set up by Jude Bellingham in the 30th minute, or if he hadn’t hit the side-netting in the 50th.

Ultimately, it was a night where Real relied on their reputation while Arsenal showcased their current form. Arsenal effectively pushed Real to the flanks and limited their chances to break through. They executed 24 high presses compared to Real’s 11 and managed 11 shots on target out of 12 attempts. Although they missed the defensive strength of Gabriel Magalhaes and the presence of Kai Havertz, both sidelined with hamstring injuries, Jakub Kiwior and Merino stepped up.

There’s more to highlight. Bukayo Saka, who earned both free-kicks that allowed Rice to demonstrate his shooting skills, looked sharp, rekindling his partnership with Martin Odegaard. Left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly proved he could shine on big occasions, showing he could play like he’s 18 forever. “The individual performances were of the standard that is required to beat this incredible team,” Arteta remarked.

Without Courtois making those crucial double saves, Alaba stepping in to help, and Bellingham clearing a Rice shot off the line, this game could have turned into a complete blowout. Camavinga’s second yellow card in the 90+4 minute for kicking the ball away highlighted Real's 11th loss across all competitions this season, which is already nine more than they had last year.

There was a time when Cristiano Ronaldo netted seven free-kicks in a single season (2010-11) and six over two seasons (2011-12 and 2013-14), but now, scoring from direct free-kicks has become quite rare. Opta puts the chances of Rice scoring from both attempts at just 0.23%. This season, only 10 direct free-kicks have found the net in the Premier League, and there were 11 total last season. La Liga has seen 13, but there were none in the last European Championship and just one in the previous edition.

Back in the 1998-99 season, the conversion rate for direct free-kicks was one in 12, but by 2023, it dropped to one in 83. This decline is due to fewer direct attempts, thanks to a focus on data like expected goals, fewer fouls in the attacking third because of VAR, and defenders lying down behind the wall.

It’s doubtful that after channeling his inner Beckham, Juninho Pernambucano, and Roberto Carlos, Rice will spark a revival of this skill. However, it’s more likely that this match could signify a turning point for Arsenal, setting them on the path to their first semi-final since 2009.

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