However, the night could have been very different from RICE after they judged him for having knocked Kylian Mbappe in the penalty area with the game without goals, which also earned him a reserve that would have ruled him out of the first stage of the semifinal.
However, the decision was revoked by an intervention of a video assistant referee (VAR) and, rather the scare affected it negatively, Rice gave the referee an approval and continued as if it had never happened.
“What two games to consolidate itself as one of the best midfielders on the planet,” said arsenal center Matthew Upson in BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Declan Rice is doing it in these two games.”
The former defender of England, Rio Ferdinand, added in TNT Sports: “You need games like this in your career. You need to reach places like this to be properly tried.
“He has faced the headlines of this trophy and is not only competed, but directs the program, directs the program in both games. He has put himself in another support.”
Rice’s five interceptions on the two legs were most of the players involved, while also had the most joint shots in the target (four).
He has seven goals in all competitions this season, matching his best campaign in a single campaign.
Any list of the world’s most complete midfielders must now include rice and has deserved applause.
“It’s such a special night for this club, a historic night for this club. We had a goal in this competition: we want to win this competition,” he told TNT Sports.
Achieving that goal and this performance could be remembered in the same way that Roy Keane in Turin 2005 in Istanbul.
But, with the PSG of the French champions below, arsenal and rice still have work to be done.
