Arsenal dismantled Real Madrid in the Champions League at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
A brace of free-kicks from Declan Rice and a strike from Mikel Merino made sure the Gunners went into the second leg in a commanding position.
Rice deliciously curled past Thibaut Courtois to open the scoring, before the Englishman doubled the Gunners’ lead with another sublime effort.
Merino put the gloss on the victory when he swept home to make it three in the 75th minute, to give the North Londoners an unassailable lead going into the second leg.
- READ MORE: Forget Declan Rice, two Arsenal stars were an even bigger impact in Real Madrid thrashing
Arsenal dismantled Real Madrid at the Emirates
If there were any doubts over whether Arsenal could win the Champions League, they were surely dismissed on Tuesday night.
The Gunners produced a relentless performance that encapsulated everything good about what they’re able to do under Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal pressed Real Madrid into submission, squeezing the European giants up the pitch in a way Carlo Ancelotti’s men couldn’t cope with.
Martin Odegaard and Merino led the press, with Rice and Thomas Partey following up behind them.
Clearly an effective ploy against a Real Madrid team that lacks tactical answers, the Premier League side were ultimately able to comfortably cruise to a three-goal win.
What Declan Rice did before free-kick goals
Rice scored the first senior free-kick of his career when he bent the ball past Thibaut Courtois on Tuesday night.
The defensive midfielder was in an imperious mood, taking it upon himself to deliver for his club.
Speaking to Amazon Prime Video after the game, Rice revealed that he and Odegaard disagreed over the context around the free-kick.
“He was saying to cross,” the former West Ham man said.
“There he was saying ‘let’s cross back post’. I turned to Bukayo and said, ‘It doesn’t make sense to cross’. The line was too high, and to chip the ball like that.”
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