Declan Rice delivered two sensational free-kick goals to lead Arsenal to a stunning 3-0 win over Champions League holders Real Madrid, bringing the Gunners within reach of a long-awaited return to the semi-finals.
Rice, who had never scored from a free-kick before, broke the deadlock with a precise curling effort just before the hour mark.
He doubled the lead 12 minutes later with another unstoppable shot from outside the box, leaving Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with no chance.
Mikel Merino wrapped up the victory with a third goal, while Real’s night went from bad to worse as Eduardo Camavinga was dismissed in the closing minutes for petulantly kicking the ball away.
The home crowd erupted with chants of praise for Rice, whose £105 million price tag suddenly looked like a bargain.
His performance was the centerpiece of an Arsenal side that outmatched Real with tactical discipline, energy, and flair.
Real had their chances early on, with Mbappe and Vinicius causing brief moments of panic in the Arsenal defence.
But David Raya stood firm, and Arsenal grew into the match with poise. Courtois made several key saves to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Merino before the goals began to flow.
Now unbeaten in the Champions League at home this season, Arsenal travel to Spain next week with confidence high and a historic semi-final spot within their grasp — something they haven’t achieved since 2009.
For Real Madrid, the heavy loss exposed long-standing vulnerabilities that have plagued their domestic campaign, and with their European crown on the line, they must now stage a dramatic turnaround at the Bernabeu.
