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 reacts
Rice and Merino are speaking to Amazon Prime Video, with the Englishman joking that he knew he had those free-kicks “in the locker”.
“That’s been the message, we need to be super convinced that we can come and win this game,” he says of Arteta’s preparations.
“In the second half we knew we had to score, and to score three was a real positive.
“It’s been in the locker, but I’ve hit the wall too many times! I was going to cross it, but I saw the wall and the ‘keeper’s position. The second one I had the confidence and I hit it.
“I think in a few years what I’ve done tonight will hit me, it was really special,” he adds.
“We need to be ready for next week, we know what the Bernabeu is like,” he says as he departs.
FULL-TIME! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
Well, what a game that was for the neutral.
Arsenal would’ve been disappointed to go into the break level after a couple of good chances but they more than made up for it with two superb free-kicks from Declan Rice and an accomplished finish from Mikel Merino.
And they take a there-goal lead into the second leg next week.
FULL-TIME! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
The referee blows the final whistle and it’s a famous night at the Emirates!
Arsenal will take a 3-0 lead to the Bernabeu next week after a sensational second-half performance.
RED CARD! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
90 +4 mins
RED CARD! Camavinga walks after he kicks the ball away after the whistle was blown!
A final blow for Madrid, though the Frenchman was set to miss the second leg anyway.
Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
90 +3 mins
One final Madrid attack but Vasquez’s cross is cleared easily, before Partey shepherds Mbappe off the ball.
Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
90 mins
Vini Jr tries to make something happen but his shot is deflected straight to Raya.
There’ll be four minutes of added time here.
Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
89 mins
This will be three matches without defeat against Madrid for Arsenal.
The Spaniard’s haven’t even scored a goal against them!
Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
87 mins
On the basis of this match, you’d say it’s even beyond Madrid to come back at the Bernabeu in the second leg, though you can never rule them out.
But they have been completely overrun in this second half by a far superior Arsenal, even aside from the two set-piece goals.
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