DECLAN RICE has been credited with helping Martin Odegaard find his shooting boots again.
The Arsenal midfielder anchored his side to a remarkable 7-1 Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.
Rice put in a dominating performance in midfield as the Gunners ran riot at the Philips Stadium.
But it was his captain Odegaard who stole the headlines after ending his four-game goal drought.
The Arsenal skipper netted just after the break to give the Gunners a 4-1 lead.
It was just his third goal in his last 21 games.
And eagle-eyed fans spotted Rice literally pointing the way as Odegaard bore down on goal.
Rice desperately gestured for the Norwegian to shoot rather than pass to him with the goal gaping.
He pointed straight at the goal, with Odegaard obliging and lashing past keeper Walter Benitez.
One fan laughed: "Wow, thank god Declan pointed at the goal to inform Odegaard where it was otherwise he would not know."
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Another said: "Telling the guy to pull the trigger for once, actually got it on target aswell. Hope he hits form now."
A third said: "Declan Rice made sure Odegaard doesn't pass it to him."
While a fourth commented: "Tonight we saw Odegaard & Rice at their best. And that’s the result. Dominating midfield & so many chances/shots created: brilliant when at their best."
Odegaard added another goal just 20 minutes later as Mikel Arteta's men turned on the style.
A delighted Rice said: "We were fluid.
"We had the enthusiasm, the drive and hunger you need in the knock out phase of the Champions League.
"But we've been playing like this all season. We feel we've been playing well as a team sometimes we score five sometimes two sometimes we don't score but tonight we did well.
"We had the opportunity to score more second half especially."
ARSENAL steamrolled a hapless PSV side to all-but book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Gunners started without a recognised striker once again but unlike at Nottingham Forest last week, goals were not a problem in Eindhoven.
A quick-fire double from Jurrien Timber and Ethan Nwaneri around the 20th minute put the Gunners in control in what was an assured display.
Every Arsenal player impressed and they were clinical with their finishing.
Only Myles Lewis-Skelly will feel a little disappointed as he was hooked after half an hour to avoid him picking up a second yellow.
It was a shame as the youngster was performing well on the ball - he played a key role in the build-up to the opening goal.
But he could not be trusted by Mikel Arteta after he dived and caught his man with a challenge that could easily have resulted in a second booking.
It was another careless moment that allowed PSV back into the match as Thomas Partey conceded a penalty that was converted on the stroke of half-time.
But the Gunners did not rest on their laurels and came out racing after the break, scoring twice in two minutes to put the match, and the tie, to bed.
Here is how SunSport's Kealan Hughes rated the Gunners' display...
Rice also singled out Ethan Nwaneri after the teenager again found the net during a breakthrough campaign.
He added: "He's 17-years-old and he's on the biggest stage.
"We've taken them [youngsters] under our wing and they deserve to be playing.
"You should see them train - they have no fear and want to perform.
"Even if [Bukayo] Saka was here Ethan would still be getting minutes because he's that good and works so hard in training.
"Same with Myles [Lewis-Skelly] despite having to come off for the yellow card tonight, we have so many top young players."
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