Arsenal v Real Madrid LIVE: Reaction as brilliant Gunners demolish visitors on historic Champions League night
Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid: Declan Rice curled home two sumptuous free-kicks and Mikel Merino scored a third as the Gunners delivered on the biggest night in Emirates Stadium history
Arsenal delivered a Champions League performance for the ages as they demolished Real Madrid 3-0 to put one foot in the semi-finals on the most historic night in Emirates Stadium history.
This was the Gunners’ biggest home occasion since their move from Highbury almost 20 years ago and Mikel Arteta authored one of their greatest ever displays to rout the shell-shocked 15-time European champions and give themselves a huge cushion ahead of next week’s second leg at the Bernabeu.
Declan Rice was the hero as he curled home two sumptuous free-kicks in the space of 13 minutes, with Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois – who was brilliant all evening long – left absolutely helpless.
Makeshift striker Mikel Merino then turned and rifled a third goal into the bottom corner 15 minutes from time to deservedly push the Gunners further clear and leave their fans dreaming of a place in the last four.
Relive all the action from the Emirates Stadium in our live blog below:
Rice's second free-kick!
And here’s the second from the England midfielder!
Rice's first free-kick
Here’s the replay of Rice’s first free-kick if you haven’t seen it!
Ancelotti reacts to famous loss
"The result means that Arsenal were much better than us,” says Ancelotti as he’s interviewed.
“The game was a bit different. 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 adds.
"The reaction, mentally we went down. We had a problem in the final 30 minutes of the game.”
"There is always a first time. You have to try. The only thing you can do together is to try, and we will try,” he says when told that Real Madrid have never overturned a three-goal first leg deficit in their history.
"They are a really good team. Compact all the time and good on the ball. They are a good team. I said this yesterday. No news.
"The comeback starts tonight," he adds as he finishes.
Premier League guaranteed fifth Champions League spot after Arsenal beat Real Madrid
The Premier League will be guaranteed at least five teams in the 2025/26 edition of the Champions League after Arsenal’s thrilling 3-0 victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
Two additional spots in the Champions League are available to the leagues in the countries with the highest Uefa co-efficients, with countries earning co-efficient points based on how their sides perform.
A win adds two points, while a draw adds one, with all the points earned by each club added up and divided by the number of clubs that league has participating in Europe.
Premier League guaranteed fifth Champions League spot after Arsenal beat Real Madrid
Bellingham reacts
Speaking to Amazon Prime Video, Jude Bellingham says: "We were nowhere near it. That's the fact and Arsenal were really good. I know two of their goals were free-kicks but they could have had way more.
“There is a second leg and that's what we're holding on to. We need something really special, something crazy really but one place where crazy things happen is our house. 90 more minutes at home to pull something out of the bag.
"They're two great pieces of individual quality and if it wasn't for them, they still have other chances. We got punished and that happens at top-level football.
"In these games, you need to create more. Very rarely do you come to a place like this score one goal and take your lead back home. They reacted really well to the transition. We didn't do enough on the ball to threaten.
"We're still alive, we've got 90 mins of football and anything can happen at the Bernabeu," he adds.
Arsenal obliterate helpless Real Madrid to finally rise to the highest level
This is the European pedigree that Mikel Arteta desired, and a victory to go down in Arsenal history. For now... but with the promise of more. Arteta had said his club needed to “create our own story” before this 3-0 evisceration of Real Madrid – a sentence that almost warrants repeating – and this was far more than just that. It was an epic.
They now need to finish that story, both at the Bernabeu next week and maybe even by lifting the Champions League trophy for the first time at the end of next month. There should be no doubt about their capabilities after a victory like this.
Madrid were subjected to the kind of humiliation that many had long suspected was possible from so many campaigns, but that so few teams have been able to do. Arsenal managed it, fully displaying the conviction that Arteta has instilled in this burgeoning side.
Arsenal obliterate helpless Real Madrid to finally rise to the highest level
Declan Rice reveals Bukayo Saka message that inspired free-kick heroics against Real Madrid
Declan Rice has revealed that a key message from Bukayo Saka inspired his free-kick heroics in Arsenal’s remarkable 3-0 win against Real Madrid.
Mikel Arteta’s side seized control of the Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium, with Rice striking twice from dead-ball situations in a second-half dismantling of the competition giants.
The midfielder had never previously scored directly from a free-kick at senior level, but produced two magical moments to set his side on course before Mikel Merino added a third late on.
Declan Rice reveals Bukayo Saka message that inspired free-kick heroics
Premier League secures fifth Champions League spot
With that victory, the Premier League co-efficient has risen once more and there will now be at least five teams in this competition next season.
The top five from the Premier League will all earn a spot in next season’s Champions League – more on that later.
Rice gets plaudits but Saka impresses
A word for Bukayo Saka’s performance tonight, with the winger coming back from injury and absolutely dominating Madrid.
He embarrassed Alaba at times and won both free-kicks leading to the goals, as well as putting in some exceptional crosses.
Merino reacts
Speaking alongside Rice, Mikel Merino says that he is “not surprised, but hopefully more will come in the future” regarding Rice’s free-kicks.
“We were talking about keeping the pace, the tempo, obviously with the help of the crowd the second half was amazing.
“When this team goes like this, the crowd comes with it and everything is easier,” he added.
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