Declan Rice scored two unimaginable free-kick targets to assist Arsenal to a well-known 3-0 win over European Champions Actual Madrid. Try the perfect details and knowledge from the sport with our Arsenal vs Actual Madrid stats web page.
Martin Ødegaard stood immobile on the sting of the Actual Madrid penalty space, head in his arms. It wasn’t disbelief that Declan Rice had scored once more – it was that he’d completed that once more. A second swerving, staggering free-kick previous Thibaut Courtois, and a second second the place the Belgian goalkeeper – one of many most interesting of his era – might solely watch it fly previous him.
In what Mikel Arteta had described as “the most important recreation of his managerial profession,” his crew delivered their largest end result below his tutelage. A 3-0 win over Actual Madrid in a Champions League quarter-final. An evening of nerve, noise and mayhem at a raucous Emirates stadium.
From the opening whistle, Arsenal seemed the sharper, braver aspect. They pressed excessive, moved the ball rapidly and dominated territory, penning Madrid again within the opening exchanges, feeding off the vitality of a febrile Emirates crowd.
There have been early jitters from the guests. Luka Modric gave the ball away on the sting of his personal field earlier than fouling Bukayo Saka. Antonio Rüdiger smashed a clearance into Eduardo Camavinga that spun simply extensive of his personal submit. Courtois needed to claw a nook from beneath his personal crossbar, and scramble once more when one other set-piece dropped free within the space. Arsenal had 69% possession within the first quarter-hour, and Madrid have been rocking.
The house aspect’s greatest path to aim appeared to be by extensive areas and set-pieces. Saka was electrical, and one fizzing supply throughout the face of aim deserved a end it by no means acquired. Gabriel Martinelli brought on related points down the left, organising Thomas Partey for a low strike that Courtois needed to palm away.
Madrid, although, all the time carried a menace in transition. Vinícius Júnior was a continuing outlet and Kylian Mbappé gave Arsenal a warning signal when he broke clear solely to see his effort fly over – and the flag go up late anyway. However the largest probability got here on the hour mark: Jude Bellingham, quiet till that time, slipped Mbappé in behind. The Frechman had time and house however his end was tame, and David Raya acquired down to save lots of.
Arsenal wanted one thing particular to beat Courtois. And that’s precisely what they acquired.
Rice had by no means scored a direct free-kick earlier than in his skilled profession. However with the Emirates devoted holding their breath, he curled a curving, whipping free-kick around the ball and previous Courtois. After which he did it once more. One other free-kick, barely wider. This time Rice whipped it into the highest nook with Courtois flailing.
Rice is the primary participant to attain two direct free-kicks in a Champions League knockout match. There can’t have been many higher braces than that.
By then, Actual Madrid have been wobbling. The Emirates was bouncing. And Arsenal might scent blood. Mikel Merino added a 3rd, sweeping in along with his left foot after one other slick transfer and a surprising double save from Courtois seconds earlier.
Madrid had no response. They managed simply two efforts on aim within the second half and 7 touches in Arsenal’s field. Camavinga’s second yellow, late on, capped off a depressing evening.
After all, there’s nonetheless work to do. The Bernabéu awaits, and Madrid have a particular aura there. However Arsenal have an enormous foot within the semi-finals after some of the well-known nights within the membership’s historical past.
Our Opta match centre delivers you all of the Arsenal vs Actual Madrid stats from this Champions League quarter-final match on the Emirates.
The match centre under consists of crew and participant stats, anticipated targets knowledge, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and extra. It offers you all the things it’s worthwhile to do your individual match evaluation.
Beneath the match centre you’ll find the official Opta stats on the sport as effectively.
Arsenal vs Actual Madrid: Put up-Match Stats
This was Actual Madrid’s joint-heaviest defeat within the first leg of a UEFA Champions League knockout stage tie, together with a 4-1 loss at Borussia Dortmund within the semi-finals in 2012-13.
Arsenal’s victory was the twelfth time an English aspect have gained by 3+ targets within the first leg of a UEFA Champions League knockout stage tie, whereas every of the 11 earlier cases have seen that crew progress to the following spherical.
Actual Madrid have misplaced 5 video games within the UEFA Champions League this season, equalling probably the most defeats they’ve suffered in a single European Cup/Champions League marketing campaign of their historical past (additionally 5 in 2000-01).
Arsenal registered 11 photographs heading in the right direction on this match; the joint-most on document (since 2003-04) by a crew in a UEFA Champions League knockout stage recreation in opposition to Actual Madrid (additionally 11 by Liverpool in March 2009, in a final 16 assembly).
Arsenal have scored 21 targets from set items throughout all competitions this season (excluding penalties); probably the most by any Premier League crew.
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