Arsenal fans work out 'hidden meaning' behind Declan Rice celebration after stunning free-kicks vs Real Madrid

Arsenal fans think they have worked out the meaning behind an Arsenal player's celebration of Declan Rice's two free-kick goals against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

Rice’s brace and Mikel Merino’s strike put Arsenal in a healthy position heading into next Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg.

Strangely the strikes were Rice’s first-ever goals from free-kicks.

“It's been in the locker, but I've hit the wall too many times or it's gone over the bar,” Rice said to Amazon Prime Video. “Originally, we were going to cross it and then I've just seen the wall and the goalkeeper's position. So I thought just go for it. And Bukayo [Saka] said to just feel it.

“The second one I had the confidence. I hit it. It's not going to hit me now because there's another leg to go. I'm excited, I'm happy, I'm over the moon. But in a few year’s time, this will really hit me that what I've done tonight was really special.”

Fans on social media think they worked out the ‘hidden meaning’ behind William Saliba's action during Rice's goal celebrations with the France international putting his hand above his face and appearing to look out to the crowd.

Former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe scored two sublime free-kicks in the last ten minutes of their Europa League group game against Vitoria Guimaraes at the Emirates in October 2019 - and he often celebrated by putting hand on his head in a salute gesture, similar to what Saliba did on Tuesday.

One fan said: “Nicolas Pepe walked so Declan Rice could run."

Another added: "Declan Rice watching Nicolas Pepe vs Vitória Guimarães highlights to warm up for a calm kickabout against Real Madrid."

A third commented: "When I first saw he got the second, my first thought was, “He’s done a Nicolas Pepe!”

While a fourth explained: "Nice homage to Nicolas Pepe, who also scored two free-kicks on a European night."

Pepe, 29, now plays for La Liga outfit Villarreal having failed to live up to expectations at Arsenal despite signing for the club for a hefty fee of £72m in 2019. The winger revealed the inspiration behind his celebration when speaking to Arsenal.com in 2020.

"The two [celebrations] came from jokes with my friends," said Pepe.

"I was chatting to them and we were trying to come up with a new celebration.

"We said 'okay, I'll try to do that [salute celebration] it was in Lille', I said if I can score I will do that and I did so I kept doing it for the rest of the season."