Jude Bellingham admits Real Madrid were actually ‘lucky’ against Arsenal for one reason

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Arsenal showed no sign of fearing Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg.

It was a dream night for the Gunners, who beat Real Madrid 3-0 at the Emirates on a night that belonged to Declan Rice. 

Rice scored two direct free kicks before Mikel Merino added a third, giving Mikel Arteta’s side a much-needed three-goal lead to take to the Bernabeu. 

Though Real Madrid’s star-studded squad would intimidate any team on paper, it was Arsenal who emerged as the headliners of the first leg. 

• READ MORE: Declan Rice stuns as one of two 10/10 performances in Arsenal player ratings vs Real Madrid

What shocked Jude Bellingham most about Arsenal 

Ben White feared Vinicius Junior before the game, but the Brazilian wasn’t the only Galactico whose name carried some weight ahead of the clash in N5. 

Jude Bellingham lined up in midfield alongside Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga, who was sent off, but the Englishman was unable to influence the game. 

After the contest, Bellingham spoke to Amazon Prime Video, where he admitted that Real Madrid were ‘lucky’ to not concede more than three goals. 

“We were nowhere near it. That’s the fact, and Arsenal were really good,” he said.

“I know two of their goals were free kicks and really good pieces of individual delivery, but they could have had way more.

“We’re lucky to get away with three. But there is a second leg, that’s what we’re holding onto. We’re going to need something unbelievably special, something crazy really.”

Though Arsenal fans deserve a night of celebration, the tie is not over with a second leg still to play; however, judging by Bellingham’s assessment, Real Madrid are there for the taking if the first-leg performance is replicated at the Bernabeu.

Arsenal dominated Real Madrid

Bellingham insisted that Arsenal could’ve scored more than three goals, which was a fair piece of analysis when studying the game’s numbers. 

Arsenal controlled possession and were the better side going forward, firing 12 shots on goal, 11 of which were on target.

Contrastingly, only three of Real Madrid’s nine shots were on target, on what was a surprisingly routine night for David Raya.

The Galacticos will return to Madrid wounded by the Gunners, with a spot in the semi-final at stake when the second leg gets underway at the Bernabeu.