Declan Rice scored two ridiculous free kicks as Arsenal annihilated Champions League holders Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final at the Emirates.
With the Emirates atmosphere as electric as it has been in recent memory, Mikel Arteta's men rose to the occasion and did not shy away from attacking the 15-time European champions in the opening exchanges, albeit while initially failing to make the most of their early dominance.
The Gunners had no centre-forward with predatory instincts ready to get on the end of two brilliant Bukayo Saka deliveries across goal, although Thibaut Courtois did have to be alert to make a smart double save from Rice and Gabriel Martinelli towards the end of the first half.
While Carlo Ancelotti's side looked dangerous on the break as expected, they also lacked their shooting boots in the opening 45, but Rice certainly did not when he bent an outrageous free kick round the wall and into the net just before the hour mark.
Not content with just the one special set-piece, Rice repeated the trick with another unbelievable free kick, before makeshift number nine Mikel Merino erased any lingering doubt on one of Arsenal's greatest nights in their history.
Eduardo Camavinga's silly red card for kicking the ball away right at the death summed up Los Blancos' bitterly disappointing night, although Arsenal still have to go to the ever-intimidating Bernabeu next week to finish the job.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
The best night at the Emirates bar none.
When it comes to colossal Champions League nights living up to the hype, Arsenal vs. Real Madrid delivered all of that and more, and there are not enough superlatives in the dictionary to do that Gunners display justice.
For a short while, it appeared destined to be the same old-story for a striker-starved Arsenal, who had no trouble fashioning chances against a passive Blancos side - there was just nobody to finish them.
However, Arteta and set-piece coach Nicolas Jover had evidently been keeping the Rice free-kick weapon in the locker for this exact moment, and the Englishman is unlikely to score two finer goals for as long as he is kicking footballs.
While Rice will naturally steal the headlines, this was as much of a night for Arsenal's cohesion, team spirit and tactical excellence, especially after the devastating blow of losing Gabriel Magalhaes.
As uncharacteristically timid as Real Madrid were, they still have the Bernabeu factor on their side, so Gooners should not be booking time off work for the semi-finals just yet.
ARSENAL VS. REAL MADRID HIGHLIGHTS
Thibaut Courtois double save vs. Arsenal (44th min, Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid)
Thibaut Courtois is a wall at the Emirates! ⛔
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) April 8, 2025
A thrilling half ends 0-0 in London, make sure to catch the second-half LIVE on Prime in the UK and Ireland 📺#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/tR6wLKp3Pv
How crucial might that prove to be! Jurrien Timber has ample time to deliver an outswinging cross into the box, which Rice meets with a header that Courtois comfortably palms away.
Martinelli is alert to try his luck on the follow-up, but Courtois rose to his feet quickly and puts up two strong fists to deny the Brazilian.
Two top saves, but Rice and Martinelli should be disappointed that they did not aim further towards the corners; had they done so Arsenal would be taking a 1-0 lead into the break!
Declan Rice goal vs. Real Madrid (58th min, Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid)
DECLAN RICE WITH A MOMENT OF MAGIC 🪄
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) April 8, 2025
An excellent free kick from the Arsenal midfielder see's the host go in front#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/Vopmz8aCUZ
Rice. Rice. Baby.
Saka does what Saka does, charging infield from the left and casually evading David Alaba, who eventually has no choice but to bring the Englishman down.
Saka and Rice stand over the free kick, which Arsenal have been pretty poor from this season, but the latter whips an absolutely sublime effort around the wall and into the net. The Emirates erupts!
Declan Rice goal vs. Real Madrid (70th min, Arsenal 2-0 Real Madrid)
DECLAN RICE HAS DONE IT AGAIN 🤯
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) April 8, 2025
Another excellent free kick puts Arsenal up 2-0 at the Emirates#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/xXezgRvfJq
Roberto Carlos eat your heart out! The Real Madrid legend is in attendance tonight and has now witnessed Rice thunder home two free kicks that he would have been extremely proud to score.
Arsenal's next set-piece is on the other side this time, but that does not bother Rice, who pulls another rabbit out of the hat with an insane postage-stamp strike into the top corner.
Mikel Merino goal vs. Real Madrid (75th min, Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid)
MIKEL MERINO MAKES IT THREE 😱
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) April 8, 2025
Arsenal are living the dream at the Emirates#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/QrO3lDFxSs
That right there is Arsenal's number nine! The ever-fearless Myles Lewis-Skelly advances into the box and might have had the opportunity to shoot, but he instead finds Merino close to the edge of the box.
The Spaniard had intelligently moved into space, and even though the ball is slightly behind him, he magnificently hooks a first-time shot into the far corner to spark yet more pandemonium!
90+4 min: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) red card
That just about sums it up for the reigning champions.
Camavinga - already on a yellow card which would have ruled him out of the second leg - boots the ball away in sheer frustration and heads down the tunnel as Real finish the game with 10 men.
MAN OF THE MATCH - DECLAN RICE
© Imago
How nice of Rice to give Kylian Mbappe a free lesson on free-kick taking. The £105m midfielder has now scored more in one night than Real's number nine has in his entire career.
Both of Rice's strikes were nothing short of perfection,
However it would be wrong not to mention Saka, Timber, Lewis-Skelly and to be totally honest the entire Arsenal team; they were all nothing short of exemplary.
ARSENAL VS. REAL MADRID MATCH STATS
Possession: Arsenal 54%-46% Real Madrid
Shots: Arsenal 12-9 Real Madrid
Shots on target: Arsenal 11-3 Real Madrid
Corners: Arsenal 5-3 Real Madrid
Fouls: Arsenal 8-9 Real Madrid
BEST STATS
In the first half vs. Real Madrid, Myles Lewis-Skelly had more touches (44 - 41) & completed more passes (33 - 30) at a higher accuracy (94% - 88%) than Luka Modric.
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 8, 2025
Not bad for an 18 year-old... 👏 pic.twitter.com/GVgC8coXCn
HT: Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) April 8, 2025
Arsenal had 4 shots on target in the first half, their most without scoring in the opening 45 minutes of a Champions League knockout game on record (since 2003-04).#UCL pic.twitter.com/V9fFwgMiMf
2 - Declan Rice is the first player to score two direct free kick goals in a knockout stage match in the UEFA Champions League. Precision. pic.twitter.com/loLhfmZ7sX
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 8, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
With 50% of the job complete, Arsenal head to the Bernabeu next Wednesday for a mouthwatering return leg, where Real Madrid will somehow have to pull off a Barcelona-style remontada to keep their dream of number 16 alive.
Before that, though, the Gunners will contest a Premier League London derby at home to Brentford on Saturday, a day before Los Blancos bid to return to winning ways in La Liga away to Alaves.
Ben Knapton
