Arsenal defied odds after they delivered a Champions League performance for the ages, demolishing Real Madrid 3-0 to put one foot in the semi-finals on the a historic night in Emirates Stadium history.
Two sensational Declan Rice free-kick goals and a fine Mikel Merino finish saw Arteta’s side demolish Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
On an electric night at Emirates Stadium, we produced a scintillating performance to beat the defending European champions as we head to the Spanish capital with a three-goal advantage.
Rice almost got his name on the score sheet in the first half but his header was well saved by Thibaut Courtois, but the English midfielder wasn’t to be denied in the second half as two incredible free-kicks flew past the Belgian stopper.
Merino added a third with a well-taken first-time finish to send Emirates Stadium into raptures, and hand Arsenal a huge opportunity to make to the semi-finals.
Mikel Arteta’s men will travel to the Bernabeu for the second leg on April 16 as firm favorites to advance to a semifinal tie against Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa, who meet in their quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday.
The Gunners have not reached the Champions League semifinals since 2009, but that target is now within their grasp after an evening that will go down as one of the most memorable in the club’s storied history.
Arteta had labelled the clash with Real as the “biggest night” of his career as he urged his players to write their own history by winning Arsenal’s first Champions League crown.
They rose to the challenge so successfully that even Arteta might have been surprised.
Arsenal trail Premier League leaders Liverpool by 11 points and look destined to finish as runners-up for a third successive season.
But the Champions League now offers Arteta genuine hope of a first major trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, providing they can finish the job in Madrid next week.
Beaten by Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals last season, Arsenal’s only Champions League final appearance ended in defeat against Barcelona in 2006 – a run that included a last 16 victory over Real.
For Real, it was a chastening defeat as the 15-time European champions were punished for the flaws that had already seen them beaten 10 times in all competitions this term as they lag four points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona.
Player Average Ratings
Declan Rice: 9.43
Bukayo. Saka 8.65
Mikel Merino– 8.39
Tomath Partey 8.17
M. Lewis-Skelly 8.15
William Saliba 8.06
Martine Ødegaar 8.00
David Raya 8.00
J. Timber 7.99
Gabriel Martinelli 7.98
J. Kiwior 7.77
K. Tierney 7.65
L. Trossard 7.58
B. White 7.24
Arteta’s reaction to Win.
Arteta said he was very convinced because he could sense in their preparation that they were really at it.
“We had that belief and trust that we could cause Madrid a lot of problems. That was the theme of the game: make it happen. If you have mindset and belief, things can happen and we delivered today. It’s just half-time but we’re very happy”, added Arteta.
And then this night is about two other factors: the atmosphere that we created even before kick-off, which I haven’t seen before, and then magic individual moments that decide football matches. Declan’s first two goals sum up the night.”
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said that Arsenal were much better than them because they were compact all the time and good on the ball.
“For 60 minutes the game was level, and then they shoot two fantastic free-kicks. The game it changes. Now it will be very difficult in the second leg. But we have to try, he stated.
