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 1-0 Real Madrid
61 mins
Bellingham gets a clever flick onto a corner but it’s straight into the hands of Raya.
Arsenal come again but Bellingham makes a good challenge on Saka before the visitors lose the ball in attack.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid
58 mins
GOAL! What a hit!
The set-piece is over 25 yards out but Declan Rice steps up and bends it perfectly outside the wall and out of reach of Courtois!
What a goal that is!
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
57 mins
A dangerous free-kick for Arsenal as Saka is brought down by Alaba in a central position.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
55 mins
Another promising Arsenal attack as rice makes a great forward run into the box but he’s narrowly beaten to the ball by Asencio.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
53 mins
A brief break in play as Camavinga is down and Partey is booked.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
51 mins
Half a chance for Madrid as Bellingham drops in to receive and lays it off to Mbappe in the box, but the angle is tight and he rifles his effort against the side-netting.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
50 mins
Another impressive Lewis-Skelly intervention as he eases Rodrygo off the ball to prevent the Brazilian playing in Mbappe.
Madrid enjoying their first spell of sustained possession in the second half now.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
47 mins
Arsenal just keeping possession here as they look to settle in the second half.
Not facing a lot of Madrid pressure at the moment either.
HALF-TIME! Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
Madrid have the ball to end the half but they finish with a subpar effort from Camavinga that flies over.
The referee brings the half to an end and it’s all level in a gripping encounter at the Emirates.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
45 mins
CLOSE! Another great Arsenal chance, and a double save from Courtois.
There’s plenty of Arsenal possession at the moment and Timber picks the ball up outside the box, lofting in a great cross that Rice heads down to force a save from the Belgian.
From the rebound, Martinelli fires it in but the ‘keeper recovers well to parry it away.
There’ll be two minutes of added time.
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