Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid

An incredible second-half performance, featuring two of the best free-kicks Emirates Stadium has ever witnessed, made for a magical Champions League night.

After an entertaining, but goalless first-half, Declan Rice sparked unforgettable scenes with a curling free-kick to give us the lead. Ten minutes later he did it again, with an even better strike into the top corner from another set piece.

Mikel Merino, our centre forward for the night, was not to be outdone. He expertly struck home a first-time left-foot finish to make it 3-0.

Our first meeting with Real Madrid since 2006 was well worth waiting for, but there is more work to be done next week in the Spanish capital.

Positive start

This night at Emirates Stadium had been keenly anticipated ever since our potential route to the final was mapped out after our successful group stage was concluded in the new year. And the expectation levels reached new heights during a spine-tingling pre-match rendition of North London Forever, with the stadium in full voice.

It nearly fell flat inside 40 seconds though, Kylian Mbappe pounced on a moment’s hesitation in our defence, and got his shot away, but David Raya was safely behind it.

Our first chances came from two Bukayo Saka corners in quick succession. The first was punched away under his crossbar by Thibaut Courtois, the second scrambled clear as William Saliba looked to make contact close to goal.

A break down the left resulted in Thomas Partey testing Courtois from the edge of the area, after Merino had laid the ball off to him, back to goal.

Another Gabriel Martinelli cross from the left was cleared away shortly afterwards, though the VAR officials took a long look at a potential handball against Raul Asencio.

The visitors though, retained an obvious threat whenever they turned the ball over. Vinicius Junior shot wide after another fast break from inside their own half.

On the half hour Mbappe had a great chance for the opener. Jude Bellingham turned defence into attack in the blink of an eye with a defence-splitting throughball, Mbappe had time to pick his spot but Raya was equal to his low shot.

After our bright start, the Real Madrid forwards were beginning to make their presence known.

Saka’s crosses unconverted

But we finished the half strongly, and Saka – back in the starting lineup for the first time since December – caused havoc with two crosses that went completely through the corridor of uncertainty and out the other end.

First, he got in behind David Alaba, and squared just in front of the goal-line, but nobody was on hand to make contact. Moments later a similar low cross was just about diverted away from danger by Antonio Rudiger’s heel.

Both Saka and Martinelli were looking threatening in wide positions in an open, flowing game.

Our next chance also came from the right, Jurrien Timber swung a cross into the middle, but Merino’s header was palmed away by Courtois. The keeper got up to keep out Martinelli’s follow up.

Chances continued to come in the second-half. Mbappe fired into the side netting at one end while Rice was denied by a sliding block after Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Rice twice as nice

But Rice was not to be denied when we won a free-kick, ten yards outside the area when Saka was brought down. Our midfielder stepped up and curled an incredible strike around the wall and just inside the post. He set his strike a good yard outside Courtois’s left-hand post, but the whip and power on his shot brought it back on target, giving the keeper no chance. Emirates Stadium erupted.

We were well on top now, and hunting the second. Incredibly three great chances within the space of ten seconds were kept out by desperate Real defending. First Martinelli’s shot was parried by Courtois, the rebound fell to Merino who caught it sweetly only for Alaba to clear off the line, and Courtois got up again to turn away Merino’s next shot.

Rice then had a shot blocked on the line by Bellingham. It was one-way traffic. Then the second goal came from another free-kick. This, arguably was even better.

It was on the other side of the D, a good five or six yards outside the box. Rice this time rattled his right-footed shot straight into the top corner. Simply unstoppable.

Magical Merino

It went from good, to great, to incredible. Lewis-Skelly ran at the shell-shocked Real defence, squared for Merino who tucked home a first-time left-footed shot, almost nonchalantly, powerfully into the bottom corner.

The atmosphere inside the stadium reached new levels. The 15-time and reigning European champions, looking to reach the last four for the fifth consecutive season, were on the ropes.

On came Leandro Trossard and Kieran Tierney as we looked to exert control for the final stages.

And we restricted them to very little though, and Eduardo Camavinga was sent off late on for kicking the ball away.

We are now well placed to reach only our third ever Champions League semi-final, and first for 16 years, but the job is not done yet. We head to Spain next week looking to complete the job.

What’s next

Before Wednesday’s return fixture in Madrid, we host Brentford on Saturday in the 5.30pm (UK time) Premier League kick-off. The second leg of this tie takes place at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, with the winner facing either Aston Villa or Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final.