Arsenal ensured Real Madrid left the Emirates wounded after the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
A spectacular Declan Rice brace and a stunner from Mikel Merino handed the Gunners a three-goal lead to take to the Bernabeu.
The Emirates was rocked as Mikel Arteta’s side derailed Real Madrid’s plans of taking an advantage into the second leg, outplaying the Champions League holders in every way.
On a night that saw plenty of Arsenal players shine against Real Madrid, the Gunners sent a message to the rest of Europe with the Champions League semi-final only 90 minutes away.
Lucas Vazquez revealed Real Madrid’s biggest struggle against Arsenal
After the contest, Jude Bellingham admitted Real Madrid were lucky to have only conceded three goals against Arsenal, as Los Blancos failed to get a look in.
The England international wasn’t the only member of the opposition to comment on the result, with Lucas Vazquez opening up about how Arsenal ‘made the difference’.
“Arsenal performed brilliantly, created a lot of chances and pressed very well, and we just didn’t manage to find our game,” Vazquez told Real Madrid’s official website.
The five-time Champions League winner then stressed how difficult it was to cope with Arsenal’s constant demand to be in control of possession.
“We had the odd move in the opposition half, but we weren’t able to keep possession for long periods and peg them back in their half. That’s what made the difference.”
Vazquez made it clear that Real Madrid were rocked by Arsenal’s energy and dominance throughout the game, giving Arteta an idea of how to inflict further pain in the second leg.
Arsenal dealt Real Madrid a 12-year Champions League blow
Arsenal’s performance was near-perfect from start to finish, conceding only three shots on target from the visitors’ front three of Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo, who Steve McManaman thinks is better than Bukayo Saka.
Aside from the ability to keep Real Madrid at arm’s length, the Gunners exploited Carlo Ancelotti’s side when going forward, doing something to the Galacticos for the first time since 2013.
It’s been 12 years since Real Madrid conceded as many as 11 shots on target in the Champions League, with Arsenal coming close to the 12 shots that Juventus let off during the 2013/14 campaign.
Arteta’s squad will savour the moment, but the job is not done, with a second leg to overcome to book a spot in the semis.
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