Arsenal outclass Real Madrid in historic Champions League win | OneFootball

On the biggest European night in Emirates history, Declan Rice produced two stunning free-kicks to help Arsenal demolish Real Madrid and make history.

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Declan Rice chose the biggest night at the Emirates Stadium in two decades to score the first free-kick goals of his career. He didn’t just score one — he scored two. Both were unstoppable, both decisive, and both delivered against a Real Madrid side that has made the Champions League its personal empire.

After a tense, goalless first half, Arsenal exploded into life. Rice’s first strike, in the 58th minute, bent wickedly around the wall and inside Thibaut Courtois’ left post.

12 minutes later, he repeated the feat from even further out, curling the ball high into the same corner with such venom that Courtois could only offer a token dive. It was the definition of ‘you don’t save those’.

After those two moments of brilliance came a third — a clever, sweeping finish from Mikel Merino after Myles Lewis-Skelly’s composed assist, sealing a 3–0 victory in this quarter-final first leg.

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Eduardo Camavinga’s late red card, hilariously for kicking the ball away, completed a miserable night for Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

The result is more than a statement — it is a piece of Arsenal history.

“They have been in the locker,” Rice admitted afterwards, referring to the two free-kicks that stunned Europe. “In a few years’ time this will hit me as really special.”

Speaking in an other interview, he said, “I’m speechless, this has never happened to me before!” a beaming Declan said after the game. “This is the quarter-final and we know how much this night meant. It’s a real historic night for the club. I’m so happy.

“They [the free-kicks] were really good. To be honest with you, I’m not used to all of this praise and media and just people saying how good the free-kicks were! I’ve seen them back a few times now but I think I’ll be up watching it all night. It’s an incredible moment, I can’t believe it.”

It was special. All of it.

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From the moment the teams emerged to a thunderous Emirates crowd, Arsenal had the edge.

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli tormented the Spanish full-backs. Saka had David Alaba tied in knots, constantly stretching the pitch and winning both free-kicks that Rice converted.

In midfield, Thomas Partey and Martin Ødegaard controlled the tempo, while Lewis-Skelly, still a teenager, excelled with calm, composed decision-making against Rodrygo.

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Real Madrid had their moments — a clever pass from Jude Bellingham sent Kylian Mbappé through in the first half, only for David Raya to make a routine save. But those chances were isolated.

For Arteta, this was vindication. “It was the biggest match of my managerial career,” he said in the build-up. His team played like they knew it.

After the game, Arteta said, “It’s a beautiful night at the highest stage in the Champions League against the team that has dominated this competition.

“We had an incredible performance in an amazing atmosphere, something I haven’t seen before here, and we created a magic night – two magic moments of Declan individually and a magic moment for the team in general to perform the way we’ve done.

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“It’s all about belief, you have to be super convinced that actually you’re going to do it. It’s a way of feeling the game and your actions. You could see the crowd 15-20 minutes before kick-off already singing and bringing that energy, and I’m a big believer in that.

“We haven’t scored a direct free kick since September 2021 and Declan has never scored a free-kick in his career and today in 12 minutes we scored two. There is something about the energy, the belief and people striving to achieve the same thing – things happen.“It just brought the team forward, elevated every individual to a different level and it created a very difficult scenario for the opposition.”

Real Madrid, for all their pedigree, were overwhelmed. Their players ended the match on their knees, exhausted and outclassed.

Camavinga’s second yellow in stoppage time was the final act in a performance defined by frustration.

At the final whistle, Jude Bellingham stood in midfield, hands on hips, gazing at the scoreboard as Arsenal fans erupted in celebration. There was nothing to say.

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The return leg at the Bernabéu awaits, and history suggests Madrid will not go quietly. But on this night, in North London, it was Arsenal — led by an imperious Declan Rice — who took control of the tie and etched their names into a tiny bit of Champions League history.