Arsenal put in a sensational performance to beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Arsenal set off aggressively, much to the approval of the home fans at the Emirates.
Bukayo Saka looked as if he’d never been away, yet despite the positivity, they appeared to lack any real cutting edge in front of goal. The Gunners went in at half-time having played arguably as well as they could have. However, they had nothing to show for it.
Arsenal were rewarded in the second period when Declan Rice sent a free-kick rocketing in to put the Gunners 1-0 up. Rice then did it again with another audacious free-kick. Having gone for power with the first, this time he curled home beautifully. It got even better for the Gunners five minutes later when Mikel Merino hit a sweet strike from just inside the box to make it 3-0. The night got worse for Real Madrid when Eduardo Camavinga was given a second yellow card in the dying seconds.
Arsenal Player Ratings
Formation: 4-3-3
Declan RiceGK: David Raya – 7/10
Had to be at his best to deny Kylian Mbappe.
LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly – 7/10
No doubt the biggest game in the youngster’s career, and he did not look fazed.
CB: William Saliba – 6.5/10
Was required to give an assured performance and did so.
CB: Jakub Kiwior – 6.5/10
Kept at it and remained focused on what would have been his biggest challenge of the season.
RB: Jurrien Timber – 6/10
Battled for the Gunners as they looked to hold their advantage.
LM: Declan Rice – 8.5/10 – Man of the Match
Struck his free-kick as sweetly as he has ever hit a ball to put the Gunners 1-0 up. Then scored a second that was just as good. Majestic.
CM: Thomas Partey – 7/10
Went into the book for a clash with Camavinga early in the second-half, but looked solid.
RM: Martin Odegaard – 6/10
Struggled to find a way past Camavinga in the first-half.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli – 7/10
Looked to get Arsenal up the field at every opportunity
CF: Mikel Merino – 6.5/10
Tried to be the makeshift striker Arsenal so badly needed and got himself a goal.
RW: Bukayo Saka – 7/10
Looked lively despite only recently coming back to fitness.
SUB – Leandro Trossard – 6/10
Came on late for Saka with Arsenal fans in party mood.
SUB – Kieran Tierney – 6/10
Came on for Rice with 10 minutes left.
Real Madrid Player Ratings
Formation: 4-4-2
GK: Thibaut Coutais – 7/10
Made a sharp double save on the stroke of half-time, with further good blocks later in the game.
RB: Federico Valverde – 6/10
Odd seeing a right-back wear the number eight jersey.
CB: Raul Asencio – 7/10
Solid and no-nonsense performance from the big Spaniard.
CB: Antonio Rudiger – 6/10
Not the best evening for the big German.
LB: David Alaba – 6/10
Still looking to return to his best form.
RM: Rodrygo – 5/10
Another Madrid man who wasn’t able to be sufficiently involved in the play.
CM: Luka Modric – 6.5/10
The 39-year-old Croatian once again defied his years, but it wasn’t his night.
CM: Eduardo Camavinga – 6/10
Looked very composed and able, breaking up play and keeping Madrid solid, but blotted his copybook with a red card.
LM: Jude Bellingham – 5/10
Fairly quiet and not able to influence the game for Madrid.
CF: Kylian Mbappe – 6.5/10
Looked sharp with some good runs early on.
CF: Vinicius Junior – 6/10
Not able to get into the game as much as he would have liked.
SUB – Lucas Vazquez – 5/10
A replacement for Modric, but was unable to change the game.
SUB – Fran Garcia – 5/10
Brought on late to replace Alaba.
SUB – Brahim Diaz – 5/10
Unable to influence the game after coming on late.
