Arsenal stormed to a shocking 3-0 win over Champions League holders Actual Madrid as Declan Rice’s free-kick masterclass left the Gunners inside touching distance of a spot within the semifinals.
Rice scored two majestic free-kicks within the second half of the quarterfinal first leg on the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Merino added Arsenal’s third purpose earlier than Actual’s Eduardo Camavinga was despatched off for kicking the ball away within the closing minutes to go away the Spanish giants in disarray.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 8, 2025
The brilliance of Rice’s brace can’t be understated, with even Actual keeper Thibaut Courtois – often so impressed on Champions League nights – unable to get anyplace close to the England midfielder’s thunderbolts.
Extremely, Rice had by no means scored a free-kick in his profession earlier than the primary of his missiles hit the again of the Actual web.
It was not more than Arsenal deserved for a mature efficiency that uncovered injury-hit Actual in ruthless type.
Audacious. pic.twitter.com/mQYTD9WpDy
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 8, 2025
Mikel Arteta’s males will journey to the Bernabeu for the second leg on April 16 as agency favourites to advance to a semifinal tie towards Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa, who meet of their quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday.
The Gunners haven’t reached the Champions League semifinals since 2009, however that focus on is now inside their grasp after a night that may go down as one of the vital memorable within the membership’s storied historical past.
Arteta had labelled the conflict with Actual because the “largest evening” of his profession as he urged his gamers to put in writing their very own historical past by profitable Arsenal’s first Champions League crown.
They rose to the problem so efficiently that even Arteta might need been shocked.
Arsenal path Premier League leaders Liverpool by 11 factors and look destined to complete as runners-up for a 3rd successive season.
However the Champions League now provides Arteta real hope of a primary main trophy for the reason that 2020 FA Cup, offering they’ll end the job in Madrid subsequent week.
Crushed by Bayern Munich within the quarterfinals final season, Arsenal’s solely Champions League remaining look resulted in defeat towards Barcelona in 2006 – a run that included a final 16 victory over Actual.
For Actual, it was a chastening defeat because the 15-time European champions have been punished for the failings that had already seen them overwhelmed 10 occasions in all competitions this time period as they lag 4 factors behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona.
ARSENAL IN DREAMLAND
Jude Bellingham was largely nameless and Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior posed solely sporadic threats after a promising begin.
Vinicius Junior threatened within the opening phases, curling broad after Mbappe picked him out contained in the Arsenal space.
Mbappe’s electrical tempo took him away from the Arsenal defence in one other lightning raid, however the France star shot straight at David Raya.
Arsenal confirmed no indicators of being cowed by Actual’s star-studded assault and Rice’s towering header from Jurrien Timber’s cross compelled a advantageous save from Thibaut Courtois, who scrambed throughout to maintain out Gabriel Martinelli’s effort from the rebound.
Mbappe lashed into the side-netting from an acute angle, however Actual have been unable to match Arsenal’s depth within the second half and the Gunners deservedly took the lead within the 58th minute.
Rice stepped up 25 yards from purpose and whipped a elegant free-kick across the Actual wall and into the far nook.
You get good free-kicks and you then get this 🤯🤯
📺 Stream #UCL on DStv: pic.twitter.com/RJ4Vz5fTzw
— SuperSport Soccer ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 8, 2025
It was a shocking strike that even former Actual defender and set-piece maestro Roberto Carlos, watching from the Emirates stands, would have been pleased with.
Arsenal nearly struck once more in a outstanding sequence that noticed Courtois save Martinelli’s blast earlier than Merino’s shot from the rebound was hacked off the road by David Alaba and Courtois once more denied Merino.
Actual have been on the ropes and Rice landed one other devastating blow within the seventieth minute, lashing an unstoppable free-kick into the highest nook from 20 yards as Courtois grasped at skinny air.
Because the ecstatic Arsenal followers roared “Declan Rice, we acquired him half reward”, that reference to his £105 million charge did not seem to be hyperbole for as soon as.
Arsenal weren’t completed but and Merino put Arsenal in dreamland 5 minutes later with a medical end from 12 yards because the Emirates was a roiling pink sea of celebration.
Nights like these 🤩 pic.twitter.com/Ueggbs7A5y
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 8, 2025
