Rice's stunning free-kick brace helps Arsenal smash Real Madrid

Arsenal rocked Actual Madrid with a elegant three-punch combo Tuesday to take a commanding 3-0 lead into subsequent week’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg.

Declan Rice scored two magnificent free-kicks – extremely, the primary direct free-kicks he is scored in his skilled profession – and makeshift ahead Mikel Merino netted a powerful one-touch shot from the sting of the realm for a memorable night time in north London.

And regardless of Arsenal’s outstanding three-goal outburst within the second half, Thibaut Courtois could have been Actual Madrid’s finest participant. He made 5 wonderful saves over the opening leg and was solely breached by finishes of the very best high quality. David Alaba and Jude Bellingham additionally prevented two Arsenal targets with goal-line clearances.

Rice bent his first free-kick round Actual Madrid’s wall in very good model, powering in a curling effort from over 25 yards within the 58th minute.

Then, extremely, Rice did it once more – and it was arguably higher than his first. The angle appeared extra interesting for left-footed playmaker Martin Odegaard, who was additionally stood over the free-kick, however Rice strode towards the ball once more and unleashed an ideal, swerving drive into the highest nook.

“Declan’s been very decided as a result of now we have stated in the previous couple of months that now we have not scored a direct free-kick in three-and-half years,” Mikel Arteta stated after the match, in line with Agence France-Presse.

“If there is a participant who can do it, how clear he strikes it, it is Declan. However you must execute it on the highest degree. And in opposition to among the finest keepers on this planet as effectively. It is wonderful.”

Rice is now the primary participant to attain two direct free-kicks in a Champions League knockout stage match.

Arsenal’s outstanding night grew to become scarcely plausible simply 5 minutes later. Myles Lewis-Skelly slid a move throughout the sting of Actual Madrid’s 18-yard field and Merino, the backup midfielder moonlighting as a center-forward amid a rash of Arsenal accidents, confidently stabbed a first-time shot into the underside nook.

“We had been speaking within the dressing room about conserving the tempo and tempo, clearly with the assistance of the gang on our aspect. The second half was wonderful, we performed with full gasoline from the aspect,” Merino informed Amazon Prime, in line with Agence France-Presse.

“When this aspect performs like that, the gang go together with us.”

Actual Madrid, the winners of a report 15 Champions League crowns, had little response to Arsenal’s onslaught. Fairly than come roaring again in true Actual Madrid model, they left with a whimper as Eduardo Camavinga was proven a second yellow card within the closing levels for kicking the ball away.

“We weren’t good,” Actual Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez admitted to Movistar post-match, in line with Agence France-Presse. “I feel Arsenal had an amazing recreation, they made probabilities, they knew tips on how to press us and we could not play our recreation.”

With such a one-sided win over Champions League royalty, some Arsenal followers will now imagine their crew can win Europe’s high prize for the primary time in its historical past.