Arsenal feels they need to benefit next week’s second leg with Real Madrid. And they have to do so as two magical moments won them on the way to win the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals at the Emirates.
In the first half, both teams were close to scoring, with Mikel Merino and Killian Mbappe both being denied by key saves from David Raya and Thibaut Courtwa, respectively. But fortunately for Arsenal, the latter went 3-0 after 75 minutes, and is now beaten on multiple occasions.
And it’s the first two goals to steal headlights, with Declan Rice getting the same free kick leaving a court core that has absolutely no chance at all.
Declan Rice has won two incredible free kicks for Arsenal
Rice’s initial efforts were on the right, and he curled it around the wall and into the top corner of a nearby post. His second strike was from the left, but he still managed to find the same corner.
Merino added Arsenal’s third five minutes after Rice’s second free kick as the Emirates were sent to Dreamland. Mikel Arteta’s team has been performing ferociously against the defending champions, and they are already solid favourites to reach the Champions League semi-finals against Aston Villa or Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal reportedly interested in Alda Goller’s summer moves, and Real Madrid attackers could see from the bench that his current side admitted three times in 16 minutes. The gunner should not be satisfied as work is not yet approaching. They will need to produce a big defensive performance at the Santiago Bernabeu next week to reach the semi-finals.