An unbelievable second-half efficiency, that includes two of the perfect free-kicks Emirates Stadium has ever witnessed, made for a magical Champions League night time as Declan Rice’s first profession brace helped beat Actual Madrid within the first leg of our quarter-final tie.
After an entertaining, however goalless first half, Rice sparked unforgettable scenes with a curling free-kick to present us the lead. 10 minutes later he did it once more, with an excellent higher strike into the highest nook from one other set piece.
Mikel Merino, our centre ahead for the night time, was to not be outdone as he expertly struck dwelling a first-time left-foot end to make it 3-0, that means our first assembly with Madrid since 2006 was nicely price ready for, however there may be extra work to be finished subsequent week within the Spanish capital.
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Six key factors from our masterclass in opposition to Madrid
Optimistic begin
This night time at Emirates Stadium had been keenly anticipated ever since our potential path to the ultimate was mapped out, and the expectation ranges reached new heights throughout a spine-tingling pre-match rendition of North London Perpetually, with the stadium in full voice.
It almost fell flat inside 40 seconds although, when Kylian Mbappe pounced on a second’s hesitation in our defence and acquired his shot away, however David Raya was safely behind it. We retaliated when a break down the left resulted in Thomas Partey testing Thibaut Courtois from the sting of the realm, after Merino had laid the ball off to him, again to aim.
After the VAR officers took an extended take a look at a possible handball in opposition to Raul Asencio earlier than deeming nothing was untoward, Vinicius Junior shot large after one other quick break from inside their very own half.
On the half-hour Mbappe had an amazing likelihood for the opener. Jude Bellingham turned defence into assault within the blink of an eye fixed with a defence-splitting throughball, and the Frenchman had time to choose his spot however Raya was equal to his low shot. After our shiny begin, the Madrid forwards have been starting to make their presence identified.
Saka’s crosses unconverted
However we completed the half strongly, and Saka – again within the beginning lineup for the primary time since December – precipitated havoc with two crosses that went utterly by way of the hall of uncertainty and out the opposite finish.
First, he acquired in behind David Alaba, and squared simply in entrance of the goalline, however no one was readily available to make contact. Moments later an analogous low cross was nearly diverted away from hazard by Antonio Rudiger’s heel.
Each Saka and Martinelli have been wanting threatening in large positions in an open, flowing recreation. Our subsequent likelihood additionally got here from the suitable, Jurrien Timber swung a cross into the center, however Merino’s header was palmed away by Courtois, and the keeper acquired as much as maintain out Martinelli’s follow-up as we went into the break with our tails up.
Rice twice as good
Probabilities continued to return within the second half. Mbappe fired into the aspect netting at one finish whereas Rice was denied by a sliding block. However he was to not be denied once we received a free-kick, 10 yards outdoors the realm when Saka was introduced down.
Our midfielder stepped up and curled an unbelievable strike across the wall and simply contained in the publish. He set his strike yard outdoors Courtois’s left-hand publish, however the whip and energy on his shot introduced it again on track, giving the keeper no likelihood. Emirates Stadium erupted.
We have been nicely on prime now, and looking the second. Extremely three nice probabilities inside the area of 10 seconds have been saved out by determined Actual defending. First, Martinelli’s shot was parried by Courtois, the rebound fell to Merino who caught it sweetly just for Alaba to clear off the road, and Courtois acquired up once more to show away Merino’s subsequent shot.
Rice then had a shot blocked on the road by Bellingham. It was one-way visitors, after which the second aim got here from one other free-kick. This, arguably, was even higher.
It was on the opposite aspect of the D, 5 or 6 yards outdoors the field. Rice this time rattled his right-footed shot straight into the highest nook. Merely unstoppable.
Magical Merino
It went from good, to nice, to unbelievable. Lewis-Skelly ran on the shell-shocked Actual defence, squared for Merino who tucked dwelling a first-time left-footed shot, virtually nonchalantly, however powerfully into the underside nook.
The ambiance contained in the stadium reached new ranges. The 15-time and reigning European champions, seeking to attain the final 4 for the fifth consecutive season, have been on the ropes.
And we restricted them to little or no although as we maintained our wholesome benefit for the second leg. One man who will not be there although is Eduardo Camavinga, who having picked up a warning that may have resulted in a one-game ban anyway, then duly collected a second late on for kicking the ball away.
We are actually nicely positioned to succeed in solely our third ever Champions League semi-final, and first for 16 years, however the job is just not finished but.
FACTS AND STATS
This was Actual Madrid’s joint-heaviest defeat within the first leg of a Champions League knockout stage tie, together with a 4-1 loss at Borussia Dortmund within the semi-finals in 2012/13.
Our victory was the twelfth time an English aspect have received by 3+ objectives within the first leg of a Champions League knockout stage tie, whereas every of the 11 earlier cases have seen that group progress to the following spherical.
Madrid have misplaced 5 video games within the Champions League this season, equaling probably the most defeats they’ve suffered in a single European Cup/Champions League marketing campaign of their historical past (additionally 5 in 2000/01).
We registered 11 photographs on track on this match; the joint-most on document (since 2003/04) by a group in a Champions League knockout stage recreation in opposition to Actual Madrid.
Declan Rice turned the primary participant in Champions League historical past to attain two direct free-kick objectives in a knockout stage match, whereas it was simply the fifth time total a participant had scored multiple in the identical recreation (additionally Cristiano Ronaldo, Hakim Ziyech, Neymar and Rivaldo).
Rice turned simply the fourth Gunner to attain from a direct free kick within the Champions League, after Alberto Mendez, Thierry Henry x3, and Bukayo Saka.
Myles Lewis-Skelly turned the second youngest Englishman to begin in a Champions League quarter-final (18y 194d), after Jude Bellingham in 2021 (17y 281d).
What’s subsequent
Earlier than Wednesday’s return fixture in Madrid, we host Brentford on Saturday within the 5.30pm (UK time) Premier League kick-off. The second leg of this tie takes place on the Bernabeu on Wednesday, with the winner dealing with both Aston Villa or Paris Saint-Germain within the semi-final.
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