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:
Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
83 mins
It’s Arsenal threatening still, as Martinelli’s cross is turned behind for a corner.
Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
81 mins
Madrid haven’t exited at this stage of the competition since 2004 – could it spell the end for Ancelotti if they were to lose next week?
His team certainly don’t look like scoring at the moment.
Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
79 mins
Rice makes way for Kieran Tierney, to a standing ovation.
Madrid make a change too, as Fran García comes on for Alaba.
Lucas Vasquez came on for Modric earlier too.
Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
77 mins
“Are you Tottenham in disguise?’ rings around the Emirates.
This could be the most famous night since the move from Highbury!
Madrid try and get forward but the attack breaks down as Mbappe’s ball to Bellingham is poor.
Madrid are in big trouble here.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
75 mins
GOAL! It’s a famous night at the Emirates!
Mikel Merino adds a third on the night with more great work from Rice.
He picks the ball up near halfway and surges towards the box, before it’s laid off to Lewis-Skelly, who squares it to Merino.
It’s a little behind the Spaniard but he hits a perfect effort on the swivel and it nestles in the far corner!
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Real Madrid
70 mins
GOAL! That is simply unbelievable.
It’s another Declan Rice free-kick!
Even better than the first, from further away too!
He steps up and rather than try to curl it up and over the wall, he simply rifles it into the opposite corner, and it flies into the goal, right into where the side-netting meets the back of the net!
Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid
67 mins
OFF THE LINE! Again!
From the corner, it’s headed back to Rice and he rifles an effort that beats Courtois but is cleared off the line by Bellingham this time!
Moments later, Saka wins a free-kick in another dangerous area.
Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid
66 mins
CLOSE!
Plenty of shouts ringing around the Emirates as Rice gets free in the box, but he can’t quite get the shot away.
Arsenal win it back almost straight away before a brilliant chance for Arsenal, as Courtois’ save falls straight to Merino, who fizzes in an effort that is cleared off the line by Alaba!
Madrid won’t be panicking here but they do look a little shocked.
Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid
63 mins
More good work from Saka down the wing wins a corner.
From the set-piece, Courtois catches it and the visitors will try to create something against a settled Arsenal defence that has been great so far on the whole.
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