In the wake of Arsenal’s spirited UEFA Champions League clash against Real Madrid, Nollywood veteran and die-hard Gunners fan, Chinedu Ikedieze, has showered praises on Mikel Arteta’s men for what he described as a “mature and masterclass performance.” Speaking in an exclusive interview with BestLagos, the beloved actor and football enthusiast broke down his excitement and admiration for the squad, especially midfield maestro, Declan Rice.
“Arsenal did a good job. They took everybody unawares,” Ikedieze said with a wide grin. “They played the Arsenal way – confidently, creatively. They won the game squarely, and I’m really impressed with their performance.”
Arsenal’s midfield trio received high marks from the actor, who reserved special praise for £105 million man Declan Rice. According to Ikedieze, Rice’s dominant presence on the pitch justified every penny of his record-breaking transfer fee.
“Declan Rice showed us why we signed him for that amount of money,” he said. “I didn’t even know he was that good with spot kicks, but he stunned everyone, two brilliant goals from the same angle. That’s what we call ‘angle 90.’ Courtois didn’t stand a chance.”
But it wasn’t just Rice who got the spotlight. Ikedieze, a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, (MFR) also acknowledged the incredible shift put in by Thomas Partey and captain Martin Ødegaard.
“Partey was everywhere, intelligent on the job, controlling, attacking, doing everything right. Ødegaard? It was a masterclass. He distributed the passes like a true general. Every attacker was well fed,” he added.
Reflecting on the match’s intensity, he applauded Arsenal’s maturity in handling Real Madrid’s potent attack, a feat he admits he didn’t entirely expect.
“I was expecting Arsenal to get a yellow card because of the high-level attackers Real Madrid possessed. But it didn’t happen. We showed them who the Gunners are.”
For Chinedu Ikedieze, the night was more than just a football game. It was a validation of Arsenal’s evolution and an emotional moment for fans who’ve waited years to see the North London club competing at the highest level with poise and power.
“We came out with a wonderful result,” he said proudly. “At the end of the day, we were smiling, and we’re still smiling.”
With the second leg looming, Ikedieze, like millions of Gooners around the world, is hopeful and expectant. If the first-leg performance is anything to go by, Arsenal may just be on course for European glory and the Nollywood icon will be cheering them every step of the way.
