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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ed Aarons

Mikel Arteta hails Declan Rice for ignoring Arsenal set-piece coach

Declan Rice Mikel Arteta Arsenal Nicolas Jover Real Madrid Bukayo Saka Kai Havertz Madrid UEFA Champions League
Declan Rice curls in his first free-kick to give Arsenal the lead against Real Madrid.
Declan Rice curls in his first free-kick to give Arsenal the lead against Real Madrid. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Mikel Arteta has praised Declan Rice for his initiative after the midfielder ignored the instructions of Arsenal’s set-piece coach before scoring the first of his two free-kicks against Real Madrid.

Rice revealed that Nicolas Jover had been telling him to cross the ball rather than shoot in the 58th minute of the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday. Rice had never scored a free kick in 338 appearances but said Jover’s instructions “didn’t make sense” and opted to shoot instead after being encouraged by Bukayo Saka.

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