Arsenal delivered a performance for the ages as they thrashed Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
This victory took Arsenal a huge step toward the semi-finals while preserving their unbeaten record against Los Blancos.
The Emirates was electric, and the players fed off the energy.
William Saliba found himself at the centre of early drama—first denying Vinícius Júnior’s dangerous cross, then accidentally blocking Thomas Partey’s flicked header on the goal line.
Arsenal pressed early, but Real keeper Thibaut Courtois stood firm to stop efforts from Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli.
Real Madrid had their moments too, with Vinícius curling wide and Kylian Mbappé forcing a fine save from David Raya after a brilliant through-ball by Jude Bellingham.
Saka looked threatening with two dangerous low crosses across the six-yard box, but no Arsenal player could connect.
Courtois remained busy, denying a powerful Rice header and Martinelli’s rebound just before the break.
Arsenal came out firing in the second half, and it wasn’t long before they broke the deadlock.
Saka won a free-kick on the edge of the area after being fouled by David Alaba, and Rice stepped up to bend a stunning shot around the wall and into the net. It was the midfielder’s first-ever goal from a free-kick—but not his last.
Just 12 minutes later, Rice stunned everyone again with an even more spectacular strike, finding the top corner and sending the Emirates into a frenzy.
The Gunners weren’t done. With 15 minutes left, Myles Lewis-Skelly played in Mikel Merino, who calmly slotted home Arsenal’s third to cap a dominant night.
Arsenal extended their unbeaten run to eight games and secured a commanding advantage ahead of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid’s night ended sourly as Eduardo Camavinga was sent off for a second yellow in stoppage time after kicking the ball away.
It marked Los Blancos’ third straight defeat in 90 minutes—a rare slump—but few would dare write them off, given their extraordinary history of comeback wins in this competition.
People’s Gazette
