Declan Rice Champions League Player of the Week nomination after iconic Real Madrid performance | OneFootball

The Arsenal midfielder faces stiff competition, but did any player really have a better quarter-final first leg?

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Declan Rice has been shortlisted for UEFA Champions League Player of the Week following his match-winning performance against Real Madrid in Arsenal’s epic 3–0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.

The nomination crowns a night that has already entered the club’s European lore and underlines Rice’s rapid evolution into one of the most complete midfielders in the modern game.

Arsenal’s No. 41 stunned the reigning European champions with two world-class free-kicks inside 13 second-half minutes — the first set-piece goals of his senior career. In a game dominated by narrative, Rice’s calm, clinical execution changed the direction of the entire tie.

Jack Wilshere shares Declan Rice Instagram post with the caption “bargain”

Rice’s individual contribution was undeniable; 90% pass accuracy, 4/5 shots on target, and every blade of grass covered. The 26-year-old now has four goals in his last three home Champions League appearances, a return that reinforces Mikel Arteta‘s belief that Rice is no longer purely a holding midfielder. For a player who only scored 15 goals in 245 West Ham appearances, he already has 14 in 94 for Arsenal, along with five more assists (18 v 15).

The goals, though, didn’t come by chance. “I don’t think people realise what a strike he has,” said David Raya. “I’ve been telling him since I came to Arsenal to shoot more from outside the box because he has a hell of a strike and he showed it today.”

Raya added: “He needs to shoot more because he has a hell of a strike. He has a deadly weapon.”

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Rice is up against Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain), Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona), and Alessandro Bastoni (Bayern Munich) for the UEFA honour. Arsenal fans have until 11pm CET on Thursday to cast their vote.

Bukayo Saka was the last Arsenal player to earn the Player of the Week award, for his display in the 3–0 win over Monaco. Rice now stands on the brink of matching that honour, having delivered one of the finest individual performances ever seen in an Arsenal shirt on a Champions League night.

But while win over Madrid is being hailed as one of the most complete European performances in Arsenal’s history, both Rice and the team are fully aware the tie is not yet settled. “It’s not done yet,” said Raya. “We did part of the job, but we have to go again next week. It’s a tough ground to go to and it’s against one of the best teams in the world.”