Declan Rice scored two excellent second-half free-kicks as Arsenal stunned Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals at Emirates Stadium to take a three-goal advantage into the second leg.
Mikel Arteta had asked the Arsenal fans to arrive early to create an impressive atmosphere inside the stadium, and the team responded by starting the game quickly with a number of dangerous crosses into the Madrid penalty area.
It took until the 20th minute for Madrid to have their first real chance, when Vinicius Jr curled an effort wide.
But Rice took control of the tie for Arsenal in the second half.
The Gunners were the better side all evening and took the lead in the 58th minute, when Rice curled the first of two excellent free-kicks round the Real Madrid wall into the corner of the net past Thibaut Courtois.
Rice scored his second of the night with a free-kick of equal quality 12 minutes later, bending another long-range effort into the top right-hand corner to leave Madrid stunned.
Mikel Merino then made sure it was a memorable night for Arsenal when he curled a shot into the bottom corner from inside the area just five minutes later.
Things only got worse for Madrid when Eduardo Camavinga was sent off in stoppage time for picking up a second yellow card.
Arsenal have not reached the semi-finals stage of the Champions League since the 2008-09 season, but they have given themselves a huge chance of progressing to the last four with this result.
Match Events
58' GOAL! Rice buries free kick in the net with a screecher! Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid
70' THIS IS DECLAN RICE GAME! Rice with an even better hit! Arsenal 2-0 Real Madrid
75' GOAL! Merino sends a terrific curler inside far post! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
Line-ups
Arsenal XI: Partey, David Raya, Ødegaard, Merino, Rice, Martinelli, Saliba, Saka, Kiwior, Timber, Lewis-Skelly
Subs: Neto, Trossard, Jorginho, Zinchenko, Tierney, Ben White, N. Butler-Oyedeji, Tommy Setford, Nwaneri, Jimi Gower
Real Madrid XI: Modric, Alaba, Courtois, Rudiger, Mbappe, Valverde, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Camavinga, Bellingham, Raúl Asencio
Subs: Vazquez, Vallejo, Brahim, Fran García, Lorenzo Aguado, Güler, Gonzalo García, Endrick, Chema Andrés, Fran González, Jacobo Ramón, Sergio Mestre
SiddiqFadiga
1246
Hit like for Declan Rice 💕
FootballGoat1
583
Arsenal serve Madrid plain Rice🍚 😂
Ayjazz1997
522
Partey is superb today he is underrated today Hit him some likes 💓
Jun7
497
Would have been 5 goals if not for him. the only bright spot in today's disaster disasterclass
Taylour
373
RICE and STEW.... very YUMMY 😋
Ibrahimsmile
311
I feel like hurting myself
dougiefresh
306
When ARTETA used TIMBER to cook the RICE, even though JESUS wasn't there, Arsenal had one big PARTEY for REAL.
Vector007
264
am short of words 😂
Ibrahimsmile
231
Hey Madrid, they hit you like you were the worst!
Rudolfrsa
203
Congratulations to Arsenal for reaching semi-finals.. This Madrid team won't score 3 goals at Bernabeu 🙌🔥😂
Ibrahimsmile
190
Real Madrid who?
itz_me_ojei
169
Even Mbappe couldn't believe Declan Rice's free kick 😮
Edoo87
157
Saliba and Ødegaard couldn't believe what Declan Rice did, either 🫢
Doxmang
136
ARSENAL. ARSENAL. ARSENAL. ARSENAL Hope You Fear Us Now And Respect Us Gunners
Nam_So
125
2 world class Free Kick from Declan Rice 🥵👑👑👑🔥. And what a team goal and Precision strike from Merino for the 3rd. Arsenal really humiliated Real Madrid.
adjective
54
GIF link Here: http://www.goalgif.xyz/v2/live/matchGifs?match_id=54095925&language=en
pihbcdit
30
Hit like for Declan Rice 💕
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am on my way home to use my TIMBER wood to cook some nice RICE am having PARTEY tonight.....
ElvinT12
22
???? Real Madrid had multiple chances in the first half and was the more dangerous team. Ancellotti is just trash and arsenal was lucky to get two set piece goals
What game were you watching?? Madrid was shitt full 90 minutes.. couldn’t even capitalize the chances they have
BillyDedon
21
Congratulations to Arsenal for reaching semi-finals.. This Madrid team won't score 3 goals at Bernabeu 🙌🔥😂
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Even if they do they will still concede 1 or 2 goals.
Doxmang
18
What An Outstanding Performance From Kiwior Tonight Let Appreciate Him Without Any Wrongs Kick 🦵
pihbcdit
15
Congratulations to Arsenal for reaching semi-finals.. This Madrid team won't score 3 goals at Bernabeu 🙌🔥😂
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the only team this season confirming the next stage in FIRST LEG
huhackoptu
13
They studied corners but it was free kicks that came up in the exam 😂😂
dougiefresh
12
Even though Rice was the STAR ⭐️ ⚽️⚽️🥅 of the show, Myles Skelly won my HEART❤️ and had the ASSIST🎯 for the last goal. A GENERATIONAL TALENT BY THE WAY. 💎⭐️❤️🔴
Rj13
11
So Real Madrid couldn’t decline RICE 🤣🤣🤣
Voadeklmpr
11
When ARTETA used TIMBER to cook the RICE, even though JESUS wasn't there, Arsenal had one big PARTEY for REAL.
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I must admit, this is the best comment of all times lol 😆
pasacdinpu
11
Even Mbappe couldn't believe Declan Rice's free kick 😮
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'even mbappe'?? someone who has never scored a freekick in his life?? 😂🤣🤣 even him how? of course he will be surprised 😂😂. he has no idea of how it works 😂
SkylarJohsua
10
Partey is superb today he is underrated today Hit him some likes 💓
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give him new contract
The_Alpha13
10
You made the PL proud today Arsenal
Feilds
10
Partey is superb today he is underrated today Hit him some likes 💓
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He controlled the midfield so well and had a few Madrid players in his pocket.
zaueiklpsz
10
???? Real Madrid had multiple chances in the first half and was the more dangerous team. Ancellotti is just trash and arsenal was lucky to get two set piece goals
Wozbcekty
9
hala madrid we loose together ..nexttime will.come back stronger..congratulation Arsenal..you played better than us
tawdimntz
9
Real Madrid please take off your mask we know you're Manchester United 😂😂😂
Ageerjok
9
Declan Rice against Real Madrid 🔥
Annieboi
8
Good Morning to all except those who betrayed our trust
Cap76
7
Two of the nicest free kicks I’ve seen in a long long time. Congrats Arsenal
Lumeklmnr
8
riiiiiice
katbmosuy
7
declan rice be like, bro let have some fun
Noeiklosyz
7
those who believe in partey hit a like
lisclty
7
Let’s get another three at Bernabeu
tutekntuz
7
Arsenal is such a generous team. They feed you with RICE before giving you the highest beating of your life. This is just the beginning Up Gunners 💪
vaaaclmnoz
8
I saw good refreezing here tonight compare to Epl refreezing. open play and not one-sided. free flow of the ball without any baseless calls. Above all Gunners came out big and victorious. like vini, mpape and the rest of Madrid star didn't come to Emirate.
sulanyang
8
No one is talking about Jurrien Timber, it was as if Vini wasn't on the pitch
DCKathimpu21
7
Even by conceding 3 goals Courtois really made decent saves and saved Madrid from getting more badly humiliated.
Mewcikmnyz
8
Partey is superb today he is underrated today Hit him some likes 💓
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love him die in that match
isaacizoh
7
Musah5
7
I beted on Madrid to win but I lost all,well done the Gunners
Wudbilyz
7
rice appreciation post
nutmegprince
7
Give Westham another 50 million for Declan Rice
Dante708
8
If madrid comeback and knockout Arsenal in bernabue then i will leave the football and watch cricket instead
ABDULFATAI ADESANYA
8
You must be very stupid, this guy can’t even save freekicks from outside the box
Which freekick are you talking about ? You are indeed the most stupid person ever. No keeper on earth would ever save any of those two freekick