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By WILL GRIFFEE Published: 20: 20 AEST, 16 April 2025 | Updated: 20: 21 AEST, 16 April 2025 19 View comments Arsenal fans are taking over Madrid, packing the local bars and have even been serenading the locals with a brilliant new chant about Declan Rice. The Gunners have a ticket allocation of 3, 875 for the Champions League quarter-final second leg but thousands more are arriving in the city to soak up the pre-game atmosphere. In one clip posted on X, Arsenal supporters are packed closely together under outdoor umbrellas at a bar in the Spanish capital, chanting about Rice - after his spectacular free-kicks in the first leg helped Mikel Arteta's side to a commanding 3-0 lead. The song, to the tune of Lonnie Donegan's 'My Old Man's a Dustman', goes: 'Declan Rice is magic, he wears a magic hat, he could have stayed at West Ham but he said "no f*** that". 'He'll score one on the left side, he'll score one on the right and when we win the Champions League we'll sing his song all night! ' Real's incredible 78, 297-capacity Bernabeu stadium will have it's state-of-the-art roof closed this evening, leading one Arsenal fan to quip: 'Rice cooks better with the lid on. ' ✨ ? pic. twitter. com/ne DNSLuyy4 Arsenal fans in full voice in Madrid already! “Arsenal at the Bernabéu, Tottenham watching Emmerdale. ” ? pic. twitter. com/N5HUr8R3Pc Arsenal fans, many of whom arrived on Thursday evening, are descending on Madrid Rice, pictured before his flight to Madrid on Thursday, was the hero of the first leg Elsewhere in the city, fans drinking at Plaza Mayor, a historic square in the centre of the city, bemused locals and tourists by chanting: 'Arsenal at the Bernabeu, Tottenham watching Emmerdale! ' Piers Morgan, a huge Arsenal fan, reacted to the video with laughing and applause emojis but a reply warned about how misbehaviour of supporters will not be accepted in Madrid. The message read: 'Madrileños are not used to this kind of behaviour at the Plaza Mayor. 'Hopefully, the Arsenal fans will behave. Spain is in Easter week, and all sorts of processions are celebrated around the city. ' And one disgruntled local posted: 'You come to Plaza Mayor for this? With a police guard, to get drunk and shout. ' Teenage superstar defender Miles Lewis-Skelly was also the subject of a chant in Plaza Mayor, as they sung: '49, 49, Lewis-Skelly, playing football the Arsenal way. ' The Gunners, while in fine voice, appeared to be behaving themselves and many of them arrived on Thursday evening to make a long weekend of the trip. The full songbook is being used but Rice is the man every fan is talking about after the most significant performance of his career last week. Uno vive al margen del fútbol, pero adivina que algo se cuece cuando escucha las habituales berreas en la Plaza Mayor de #Madrid. .. pic. twitter. com/m S7v6l GGFG The historic site is in the centre of the city and far more fans than the 3, 875 allocated away tickets have flown to the Spanish capital to soak up the atmosphere Plenty of supporters are joining up in Plaza Mayor and enjoying some sangria The two free-kicks to help Arsenal win 3-0 will go down in club legend if Arsenal win it all His set piece magic and Mikel Merino's goal mean Arsenal have one foot in the semi-finals, where they would play PSG, unless disaster strikes against the 15-time European champions. The £100m midfielder emulated one of his heroes, David Beckham, with his stunning goals at the Emirates. '[Beckham, 23] was my favourite shirt as a kid, he previously revealed. 'I remember going on holiday with my brothers and my family and non-stop wearing this shirt. 'It’s iconic, with Becks on the back. Probably my favorite kit of all time. So many good players, obviously Becks was the icon, to have this shirt and to have his name on the back was a dream as a kid. ' Beckham will forever be associated with Real Madrid's Galactico era but tonight Rice is looking to pile on the pain for the Spaniards. Supporting the 26-year-old, as ever, will be his childhood sweetheart Lauren Fryer, who was previously described to Mail Online as one of the 'loveliest people you could meet'. The duo have a two-year-old son, Jude. Lauren Fryer (right) has been described as one of the 'loveliest people you could meet, ' someone who keeps the Arsenal star grounded Unfortunately, the couple have had to deal with nasty online comments from trolls and Lauren was hit with a barrage of online abuse over her appearance, which led to her deleting all the photographs off her Instagram account The bullying first started in December 2023 and made a significant impact on the couple, with Rice said to be 'desperately sad'. The England star has managed to come through those difficult times and is now spearheading Arsenal's Champions League charge. Jamie Carragher recently said he believes the 26-year-old could be the best English player of his generation, high praise indeed when his opposite number in Madrid tonight is Jude Bellingham. Both men have shot to stardom in recent years and Rice has embraced the opportunities his fame has bestowed, while remaining a humble and likable figure. He modelled at London fashion week and was a cover star for the magazine Men's Health. Rice has dipped his toes into modelling for magazines and often wears Prada gear The 26-year-old is looking to outshine England counterpart Jude Bellingham in midfield The 26-year-old often dons Prada gear and in 2022 modelled for the cover of Circle Zero Eight magazine. No doubt the Arsenal backroom staff will have his favourite pre-match meal sorted for tonight, too. 'I have four pancakes before a game. Covered in syrup or honey, ' he said. 'I swear to God, it’s the best thing… When I joined the club, I could see the [Arsenal] players eating them and thought to myself, "What is going on here? " But honestly, it’s been a game changer. ' And Rice has become Arsenal's game-changer. If the Gunners go on to progress and end up winning the competition, their free-kick supremo at the heart of midfield will go down with the legendary figures in club history.
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