Nobody expected two Declan Rice free-kicks - but could Arsenal beating Real Madrid set us on the path to Champions League glory 

“Deckers! The keeper’s left!”

Nobody expected two Declan Rice free-kicks.

Not least Declan Rice. And certainly not Real Madrid. And then bang: the tie - and possibly our Arsenal lives - changed in an instant.

Arsenal supporters are seasoned enough to know that this tie is far from over and would have felt more convinced if we’d bagged a 4th or even a 5th while on our giddy high.

But 3-0 at home to Real Madrid - actual Real Madrid, the holders - is a feat to make you blink hard, shake your head and laugh at the random shocking brilliance of it all.

I often wonder what other fans make of Arsenal.

Do they notice us?

Are we real, or just a figment of our imagination? Was anyone else watching last night? You know how you feel when other clubs win trophies or big matches - you get a sense of their achievement, their elation - but what is Arsenal to them?

Well, last night, at the very least, the whole world watched Real Madrid - and they lost 3-0, at Arsenal. Seriously. It’s real. It actually happened. 

I was openly confident we’d win - I’d predicted 3-1 - as I couldn’t see Real handle our pace and set-pieces.

I wanted us to be ambitious and brave, not rely on controlling possession. As the game progressed, I was shouting - literally begging - “Be ambitious Arsenal! Be brave!” And then we got a free-kick.

I’m so used to us wasting direct free-kicks that I joked with Scott to my left, “I wonder who’ll kick it into the wall?

Whoever we sign this summer, we need someone who can take a free-kick!”

I was half expecting Odegaard to lay the ball wide and end up back at Raya, but I always look at goalkeeper positioning and point out where the space is.

I do it at matches, I do it at home. I can see goals coming - if only players would shoot where I say!

So last night I could see the space to Courtois’s left.

I shouted out at Declan Rice “Deckers! The keeper’s left!”

In a world where some people are so good at playing football that they do it professionally as a living, earning millions every year, surely any of them should be able hit a free-kick on target?

Then it’s up to a goalkeeper to do their job and save it.

In an instant, from my bellow, Dec boshed it right where the space was. Beautiful!

Now I can’t tell you that he heard me, but we all feel that we’re helping.

With the second free-kick, Deckers couldn’t wait to take it.

Both free-kicks were helpfully a good 30 yards out: plenty of distance to get the ball up and down or around. Dec looked confident that he could score again. I was. And the rest you know. 

Finally, we have a free-kick taker. A regular starter. No more treating direct free-kicks as a chance to recycle the ball around the team, like an endless pass the parcel. No need to sign James Ward-Prowse, just to bring him on to score free-kicks. Declan, the keys are yours pal.

Those Declan Rice free-kicks didn’t just change a tie against Real Madrid, they may change our lives. Forever.

This might not be just another narrative where Arsenal win a big game on the way to getting knocked out. Some moments are profound. Those free-kicks were hefty blows.

What if we see off other teams till there’s nobody else to play?

They’ll hand us a massive shiny trophy. 

Mr Shaky-Handy Man - UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin - has meticulously perfected the robotic no-look art of handing out medals while smiling and facing recipients as his hand extends behind, fingers clutched, ready for a UEFA goon to place each next medal.

I often wish he’d be handed something random - a banana, a bowl of custard - his reaction would be a picture. We might see him trying to be a dude with our players come May.

Now is not the time for laurel resting.

We plan how to defend well at the Bernabeu, yet attack with pace and width. We plan how to avoid getting sucker-punched by an early Real goal and any dark arts efforts to get one of our defenders targeted for a red card.

We plan how to see off a semi-final opponent.

We plan how to win the Champions League.

Read Simon Rose in evry print issue of the Gooner Fanzine

Follow him @thatsimonrose