Arsenal took a giant step toward a first UEFA Champions League semi-final appearance since 2009 with a commanding 3–0 victory over Spanish giants Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, powered by a sensational brace from Declan Rice.
The England international struck twice from free-kicks in the second half to hand the Gunners a commanding advantage going into the second leg of the quarter-final tie in Madrid.
Manager Mikel Arteta had urged fans to arrive early and make their presence felt—and the atmosphere at the Emirates was electric from the first whistle. Arsenal responded in kind with a high-intensity start, launching a series of threatening crosses into Madrid’s box.
Real Madrid struggled to find their rhythm, managing their first real opportunity in the 20th minute when Vinicius Jr curled a shot narrowly wide.
The breakthrough came in the 58th minute as Declan Rice stepped up and curled a perfectly placed free-kick past Thibaut Courtois. The Emirates erupted—and the Gunners never looked back.
Twelve minutes later, Rice repeated the feat, bending another stunning free-kick into the top corner to leave Courtois rooted to the spot and Madrid visibly shaken.
The night got even better for Arsenal in the 75th minute when Mikel Merino, linking well with the attack, fired a composed finish into the bottom corner from inside the area.
Madrid’s misery was compounded in stoppage time when Eduardo Camavinga received a second yellow card and was sent off, ruling him out of the return leg.
With a three-goal cushion and a Real Madrid side now missing a key midfielder, Arsenal are firmly in the driver’s seat ahead of the second leg in Spain.
The North London side, hungry for European glory, now find themselves just one step away from a long-awaited return to the semi-finals.
