Arsenal delivered a stunning 3-0 victory over Champions League holders Real Madrid, with Declan Rice’s free-kick masterclass putting the Gunners within striking distance of a semi-final spot.
Rice scored two exquisite free kicks in the second half of the quarter-final first leg at the Emirates, with Mikel Merino adding a third for Arsenal. The match took a dramatic turn when Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga was sent off in the final minutes for kicking the ball away, leaving the Spanish giants in disarray.
Rice’s brace was nothing short of sensational, with even Real’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois — typically brilliant on Champions League nights — unable to get close to the England midfielder’s unstoppable shots.
Remarkably, Rice had never scored a free kick before his first thunderbolt found the back of the net. It was a fitting reward for Arsenal’s composed performance, which exposed an injury-hit Real Madrid in ruthless fashion.
Mikel Arteta’s side will travel to the Bernabeu on April 16 as clear favourites to progress to a semi-final showdown against either Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa, who face off in their own quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.
This victory puts Arsenal on the brink of their first Champions League semi-final since 2009, and the excitement is palpable after an unforgettable night in north London.
Arteta had described the clash with Real as the “biggest night” of his career, urging his players to write their own history and secure Arsenal’s first-ever Champions League title. They responded brilliantly, and even Arteta might have been surprised by their dominance.
Though Arsenal trail Premier League leaders Liverpool by 11 points and seem destined to finish as runners-up for a third consecutive season, the Champions League now offers Arteta a genuine shot at a major trophy since his 2020 FA Cup win — providing they can complete the job in Madrid.
Having been knocked out by Bayern Munich in last year’s quarter-finals, Arsenal’s only previous Champions League final appearance ended in defeat to Barcelona in 2006, though that run included a memorable victory over Real Madrid in the last 16.
For Real Madrid, it was a humbling defeat. The 15-time European champions were punished for the flaws that have already seen them lose 10 matches in all competitions this season, leaving them four points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Arsenal’s dreamland
Jude Bellingham was largely anonymous, while Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior posed only sporadic threats after a promising start. Vinicius came close early on, curling a shot wide after Mbappe’s assist, and Mbappe’s blistering pace saw him break free of the Arsenal defence, but his shot was straight at goalkeeper David Raya.
Arsenal were undeterred by Real’s star-studded attack. Rice’s powerful header from a Jurrien Timber cross forced a fine save from Courtois, who also scrambled to keep out Gabriel Martinelli’s rebound effort.
Mbappe fired into the side-netting from a tight angle, but Real Madrid couldn’t match Arsenal’s intensity, and the Gunners deservedly took the lead in the 58th minute.
Rice stepped up from 25 yards and curled a sublime free kick around the wall and into the far corner — a stunning strike that even former Real defender and set-piece legend Roberto Carlos, watching from the stands, would have applauded.
Arsenal almost doubled their lead moments later in a remarkable sequence. Courtois saved Martinelli’s powerful shot, and Merino’s rebound effort was cleared off the line by David Alaba before Courtois denied Merino again.
With Real on the ropes, Rice delivered another hammer blow in the 70th minute, smashing an unstoppable free kick into the top corner from 20 yards, leaving Courtois grasping at thin air.
As Arsenal fans erupted in joy, chanting “Declan Rice, we got him half praise,” the £105 million price tag seemed justified, for once.
Arsenal weren’t finished. Merino sealed the victory five minutes later with a clinical finish from 12 yards, sending the Emirates into a sea of red and white celebrations.
AFP
