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:
Declan Rice reveals how he defied Arsenal set-piece coach to score stunning free-kick 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.
Rice revealed after the conclusion of the first leg that he had not initially been planning to shoot from the first free-kick, instead eyeing up a cross under the instruction of captain Martin Odegaard and set-piece coach Nicolas Jover.
But having seen a gap alongside the Real Madrid wall, and with the words of his teammate Saka in his ears, Rice bent his strike past Thibaut Courtois at the near post to give Arsenal the lead.
Declan Rice reveals he defied Arsenal set-piece coach to score free-kick
Thibaut Courtois criticises Real Madrid teammates for role in Declan Rice free-kicks
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has blasted his teammates for their role in facilitating Declan Rice’s free-kick masterclass as Arsenal took control of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
“They are two unnecessary fouls, where there is no danger,” Courtois said post-match. “Maybe you shouldn’t make those mistakes. Keep studying so that they don’t get those in the second leg.
“I knew I would have a job, they are a team that attacks well. In the fouls, I thought I had set up the wall well. I always put in an extra man so that the shot does not get past. I can take that responsibility, I could have put one more man even, but I thought I wasn’t going to get tested. And the second is a great goal.”
Thibaut Courtois criticises Real Madrid teammates for role in Declan Rice free-kicks
‘Humiliated’: Spanish newspapers react after Real Madrid thrashed by Arsenal
‘Humiliation’ is the word of the day on Spanish front pages after Real Madrid were trounced in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at the hands of Arsenal.
The reigning European champions now have a mountain to climb if they seek to keep their title defence alive, with an awe-inspiring Declan Rice free-kick double propelling the Gunners to a 3-0 win at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta’s makeshift number nine Mikel Merino also fired in a perfectly-placed effort to add to Arsenal’s advantage ahead of the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, capping off what was arguably Arsenal’s greatest ever European night.
For Los Blancos, on the other hand, their trip to North London was one they won’t be able to forget for a while, outclassed by a side that have now left their hopes of a 16th Champions League title hanging by a thread.
Humiliated’: Spanish newspapers react after Real Madrid thrashed by Arsenal
Jude Bellingham makes ‘lucky’ confession after Real Madrid’s defeat to Arsenal
Jude Bellingham believes Real Madrid were “lucky” to only concede three as Arsenal seized the advantage in their Champions League quarter-final tie.
The reigning European champions were condemned to a damning 3-0 loss at the Emirates, with a stunning Declan Rice free-kick double leaving Los Blancos with a mountain to climb in the return leg next week.
Bellingham believes Real could have easily lost by a worse margin given the sheer number of chances Arsenal fashioned throughout the contest, having persistently knocked at the door in the first half.
While stating the tie isn’t beyond recovery just yet, the Englishman is quick to insist that it will take something “special” for Real Madrid to keep their Champions League defence alive.
Bellingham makes ‘lucky’ confession after Real Madrid’s loss to Arsenal
The three words that inspired Arsenal’s greatest Champions League night
If the “magic moments” didn’t reveal enough, as Mikel Arteta put it, two images displayed the scale of Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. One was the scene in the dressing room, where staff congratulating the players could barely be heard over the noise. It was raucous.
When Declan Rice came in with his man-of-the-match award, he was laughing about how Nicolas Jover told him to cross his first free-kick. A few metres away, Carlo Ancelotti could barely be heard for very different reasons. The Real Madrid manager’s voice was unusually low for his post-match press conference, which he didn’t stick around long for. Ancelotti has rarely been so subdued.
That was ultimately because of another message relayed by Arteta, that was heard loud and clear.
That was to “make it happen”.
The three words that inspired Arsenal’s greatest Champions League night
Breaking down Declan Rice’s ’magical’ free-kicks against Real Madrid: ‘What are the odds?’
Declan Rice scored the first direct free-kick of his professional career to give Arsenal the lead in their historic victory over Real Madrid. Then, 12 minutes later, he did it again.
Both free-kicks in the 3-0 win were of the highest quality, too, as the England midfielder first bent a sublime strike around Real Madrid’s wall before thundering an unstoppable shot into the top corner of Thibaut Courtois’ goal to leave Martin Odegaard standing with his hands on his head and the Emirates losing its collective mind.
“What are the odds?” Mikel Arteta asked, and quite. Rice had gone 338 appearances in his career without scoring a free-kick, only to become the first player in Champions League history to score two in the same knockout game - as well as only the fifth overall, joining Rivaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Hakim Ziyech.
Breaking down Declan Rice’s free-kicks against Real Madrid: ‘What are the odds?’
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice injury updates after Arsenal win over Real Madrid
Mikel Arteta hoped the injuries that forced Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice off the pitch in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid were not “serious” as he insisted the Gunners have more to give in next week’s Champions League second leg.
Rice scored two sublime free-kicks on a “magical” night for Arsenal while Saka enjoyed an excellent return on his first start in four months following a hamstring injury, winning the free-kick where Rice scored his first goal.
Mikel Merino added a third for Arsenal ahead of next Wednesday’s quarter-final return leg at the Bernabeu but Saka and Rice hobbled off before full-time. Arteta confirmed Saka had a “knock” and Rice “an issue with his foot” but was not overly concerned.
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice injury updates after Arsenal win over Real Madrid
‘What are the odds?’ – Declan Rice’s free-kick double delights Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta hailed Declan Rice’s magical double set-piece strike against Real Madrid and then insisted Arsenal have “a lot more to give” in their historic bid to win the Champions League.
Rice opened the scoring at the Emirates with the first direct free-kick of his career on 58 minutes before landing a second 12 minutes later.
Mikel Merino scored the third with 75 minutes gone as Arsenal sealed a 3-0 win at the Emirates to take a major step towards the semi-finals ahead of next week’s return leg at the Bernabeu.
Prior to Tuesday’s match, Rice had never scored from a direct free-kick in 338 professional appearances. Arsenal had also failed to find the net from a direct set-piece in almost four years, with their last coming via Martin Odegaard against Burnley in September 2021.
‘What are the odds?’ – Declan Rice’s free-kick double delights Mikel Arteta
Declan Rice’s free-kick double helps Arsenal to stunning win against Real Madrid
A reminder of the events from a famous night at the Emirates...
Declan Rice scored two sensational free-kicks to send Arsenal on their way to a remarkable 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash.
Rice delivered his first stunning set-piece with 58 minutes gone before striking again 12 minutes later. Mikel Merino grabbed a third to send the Emirates into dreamland ahead of next week’s return fixture at the Bernabeu.
The 15-time European Cup winners had no answer for a rampant Arsenal as Mikel Arteta’s men pulled off a statement win which sees them put one foot in the semi-finals as they bid to win the Champions League for the first time.
Arsenal obliterate helpless Real Madrid to finally rise to the highest level
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.
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