Arsenal FC have surprised all football fans this week after winning by a resounding 3-0 in the Champions League against the reigning champions, the glorious Real Madrid. Moreover, they did so by playing an extraordinary game and showing themselves to be far superior to their opponents at all times.
The ‘Gunners’ are just 90 minutes away from making history, qualifying for the semifinals of Europe’s top competition 16 years later. The last time they did so was in the 2008/2009 season, when the club’s stars such as Cesc Fábregas and Robin Van Persie were still playing for the club.
Declan Rice, the helm of the ‘Gunners’:
One of those responsible for the team’s good form is star midfielder Declan Rice. The former West Ham player joined the club two summers ago for a fee of around 122 million euros, making him the most expensive English player in history, although his performances show that all the money invested in him is paying off.
This past Tuesday he was by far the MVP of the Champions League match against Real Madrid, raising all his qualities to the maximum. He handled the ball in midfield to his heart’s content, confident in defense and reaching the opposing area with danger, always connecting in one way or another with his team’s strikers.
What’s more, the Londoner discovered a new facet: free kicks. Looking at the two tremendous free-kicks he scored from set pieces, it is impressive to think that before the match Rice had never scored a goal from a free-kick in his life. They were two goals out of a movie, the first one with a perfect curl and the second one with the ball in the very corner of Thibaut Courtois’ goal.
A sublime and humble player like those that are no longer left. At only 26 years old, the direction of Arsenal’s midfield has a name and a surname for several seasons.
Mikel Arteta, Arsène Wenger’s successor at Arsenal?
For several seasons now, we can observe a different Arsenal from the last years of Wenger and Unai Emery. Arsenal have undergone a great transformation since the Spanish coach arrived at the team in December 2019 until today. They have gradually become a more competitive team capable of fighting for the Premier League title and going far in European competitions.
In fact, to the less young ‘Gunners’ fans, this team reminds them more and more of the mythical Arsenal of Wenger’s golden years, when they were winning leagues and competing until the last stages for the Champions League.
Will Mikel Arteta be able to leave a similar legacy to the one left by the French coach at the North London outfit?
Main image: @Arsenal.
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