“Even though I scored two of the most stunning free-kick goals in football history, that guy was the real standout on the pitch and truly deserves all the credit, not me,” says Arsenal’s free-kick star Declan Rice as he reveals the ONE Arsenal teammate who deserved all the praise in their clash against Real Madrid yesterday.

BREAKING NEWS: Humble Declan Rice Says Teammate Deserves All the Praise After Real Madrid Clash

In a thrilling pre-season encounter that saw Arsenal take on Real Madrid in a match filled with drama and brilliance, it was Declan Rice who stole headlines with two jaw-dropping free-kick goals.

The England international’s set-piece masterclass left fans and pundits in awe, sparking conversations across the football world. However, in a surprising and humble post-match statement, Rice deflected the attention away from himself and showered praise on a teammate he believes was the true star of the night.

“Although I scored two of the most beautiful free-kick goals in football history,” Rice said with a smile, “that guy was the best player on the pitch and he deserves all the praise, not me.”

While many expected Rice to bask in the glory of his stunning goals, the midfielder was more interested in highlighting the performance of a teammate who, according to him, made the biggest impact against Real Madrid. What’s even more surprising is that Rice pointed out this particular player had been one of Arsenal’s most underwhelming performers last season.

“That guy was one of the worst players last year, but he surprised me yesterday,” Rice admitted. “His improvement is unbelievable. The way he played, the energy, the decisions, the confidence — it was like watching a completely different person.”

Although Rice did not immediately reveal the name of the player during the initial interview, speculation is rife among fans, with many guessing it could be someone like Fabio Vieira or Nuno Tavares, both of whom struggled for consistency last season.

Arsenal fans have applauded Rice for his humility and leadership, choosing to uplift a teammate in the spotlight rather than take the credit himself. The Gunners’ impressive 3-1 victory over Real Madrid has only added to the excitement building around Mikel Arteta’s squad ahead of the new season.

If this performance is anything to go by, Arsenal might just be cooking something special. And with leaders like Declan Rice in the dressing room, the Gunners are looking more united and focused than ever.

Stay tuned as we await confirmation on who the surprise standout star was — and whether he’ll keep up this form when the season kicks off.