Champions League: Arsenal thrash Real Madrid in 'forgettable' quarter-final clash

Arsenal made sure Real Madrid went back to the Spanish capital in a ‘forgettable’ Champions League quarter-final clash, thrashing the current holders 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

Mikel Arteta’s side, who dominated possession and controlled the game from the start, made sure Madrid’s deadly trio, Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe, and Rodrygo, posed no threat to their water-tight defence, limiting them to just eight shots in the game.

Vinicius looked a shadow of his usual self going forward, and Los Blancos failed to create on the counter.

The Gunners were the favourite according to the bookies, and Arteta’s ‘fantastic’ side made no mistake in making that count on the night.

Real Madrid lost 3-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League quarter-final 1st leg (Image by Getty Images)

After an almost even first half, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice got the hosts running with a stunning free kick from a little over 29 yards in the 58th minute to find the top corner, leaving Thibaut Courtois no chance for a save.

Rice’s second goal came from another free kick in a similar position to put them far from the reach of the Los Blancos – Arsenal were up by 2-0.

Rice had never scored a senior free-kick before Tuesday. Having waited 339 games for a direct free-kick goal, he scored two in quick succession.

The 26-year-old becomes the first player in Champions League history to score two direct free kicks in a knockout stage match in the process.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men look lost and shocked at the Emirates, as Mikel Merino put the visitors out of their misery with another sublime left-footed curler in the 75th minute to kill the game.

It all ended at the Emirates with a 3-0 win for Arsenal. Surely, there will be a Madrid response next week. But they have left it all to do for themselves.

Knowing Madrid for great comebacks in the past, we should be expecting a showdown at the Bernabeu next week.