DECLAN RICE INSPIRES HISTORIC ARSENAL VICTORY OVER REAL MADRID WITH STUNNING FREE-KICK BRACE
Arsenal delivered one of the most iconic performances in their modern European history on Tuesday night, sweeping aside 15-time champions Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final. Declan Rice was the undeniable hero, scoring the first two free-kick goals of his career in a sensational second-half display that left the Emirates rocking and Madrid stunned.
On a night billed as the club’s most significant European fixture since their move from Highbury nearly two decades ago, Mikel Arteta’s side produced a performance for the ages. Rice’s two sumptuous strikes, followed by a confident finish from makeshift striker Mikel Merino, gave the Gunners a commanding lead heading into next week’s second leg at the Bernabeu.
With Arteta urging fans to arrive early and create a cauldron of noise, Arsenal wasted no time asserting themselves. Dangerous crosses, quick tempo, and electric movement had Madrid on the back foot from the first whistle. But it was in the second half where the real magic unfolded.
After a goalless but competitive first 45 minutes with Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham threatening for Madrid Declan Rice broke the deadlock in the 58th minute. Lining up a free-kick just outside the area, the England international curled an unstoppable shot around the wall and into the bottom corner past the outstretched Thibaut Courtois. Thirteen minutes later, he did it again this time with a thunderous effort into the top right-hand corner, lifting the Emirates roof in the process.
“It didn’t make sense to cross,” Rice later admitted. “Bukayo [Saka] just said, ‘If you feel it, go for it.’ And I did. I’m happy I took it because it was magic.”
Not to be outdone, Merino deputising up front in the absence of Kai Havertz made it three with a precise first-time left-foot finish from the edge of the box, putting a gloss on a night Arsenal fans will never forget. The Spanish international now has five goals in his last nine appearances and is proving to be a reliable attacking option in Arsenal’s injury-hit season.
To compound Madrid’s misery, Eduardo Camavinga received a second yellow card in stoppage time, ensuring the Spanish giants will be without the midfielder for the return leg.
Despite a handful of first-half scares most notably a Bellingham through-ball that almost put Mbappé in Real Madrid lacked the flair and steel they’re renowned for in Europe. Courtois, who was excellent throughout, could do nothing about the three goals that flew past him.
“The result means Arsenal were much better than us,” admitted Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti post-match. “It was even for 60 minutes, then two fantastic free-kicks changed everything. Now, it will be very difficult in the second leg.”
Still, Madrid’s stars aren’t giving up hope. Mbappé rallied fans and teammates alike with an Instagram message: “Hay que creer hasta el final” (“You have to believe until the end”). Bellingham echoed the sentiment, saying: “We’ve got 90 more minutes at home to pull something out of the bag.”
From a thunderous pre-match rendition of North London Forever to an electric atmosphere that never waned, the Emirates crowd played their part to perfection. William Saliba praised the fans post-match: “It gave us a lot of confidence. It’s because of them we played so well they pushed us, and we did well.”
Arsenal have not reached the Champions League semi-finals since the 2008-09 season. While this 3-0 cushion is massive, Arteta knows better than to count Madrid out.
“Even if we’re 3-0 up,” Rice said, “the individual quality they have is scary. At the Bernabeu, special things happen. We want to be in the semi-finals, and we know we need another big performance.”
Arsenal now turn their attention to Brentford this Saturday in the Premier League before heading to Spain next week, where they’ll try to complete one of their greatest-ever European missions.
