Arsenal pulled off one of their first biggest wins in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg, thrashing Real Madrid 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium and giving themselves a historic win and an advantage ahead of the return fixture in Spain.
The Gunners were dominant throughout, with Declan Rice seamlessly integrated into the action. After the break, Arsenal’s persistence paid off despite early resistance from Los Blancos goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. And it was Rice who broke the deadlock, curling in the most sublime free-kick after Bukayo Saka had been fouled just outside the box on 40 minutes —his first-ever goal from a direct set-piece.
The midfielder wasn’t finished, though. Twelve minutes later, he electrified Emirates crowds once more with yet another world-class free-kick that found the top corner. Arsenal kept on coming, and their pressure finally paid off as Mikel Merino made it 3-0 with 15 remaining after being played in by teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Real Madrid’s frustration erupted during stoppage time as Eduardo Camavinga picked up a second yellow card for dissenting against a call. The result secures an unbeaten run of eight matches for Arsenal and leaves the tie well in Arsenal’s hands ahead of the return match in Madrid, while Real Madrid now face a steeper task at the Santiago Bernabéu.
