Arsenal delivered a commanding performance at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, defeating reigning UEFA Champions League champions Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final clash.

Declan Rice was the star of the evening, scoring two sensational second-half free kicks to propel the Gunners toward a potential semi-final berth.

The match began with both teams creating early chances. Arsenal controlled much of the opening exchanges, with Declan Rice and Thomas Partey testing Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois.

At the other end, David Raya denied Kylian Mbappé in a close-range duel, ensuring the first half ended goalless despite high-intensity play.

The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Rice stepped up for a free kick just outside the penalty area.

With precision and power, he curled the ball around Madrid’s defensive wall and into the bottom corner, leaving Courtois rooted to the spot. The Emirates erupted as Arsenal took a deserved 1-0 lead.

Twelve minutes later, Rice struck again. Awarded another free kick from a similar position, he unleashed an even more spectacular effort, sending the ball soaring into the top corner past a helpless Courtois.

The goal not only doubled Arsenal’s lead but also made Rice the first player in Champions League history to score two direct free kicks in a single knockout-stage match.

Arsenal’s dominance continued as Mikel Merino added a third goal in the 75th minute. The midfielder capitalized on a perfectly timed pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly, slotting the ball into the bottom corner to seal an emphatic victory for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Real Madrid’s frustrations were compounded in stoppage time when Eduardo Camavinga received a second yellow card for dissent, leaving his team further depleted ahead of next week’s second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Speaking after the match, Rice expressed his delight: “What I’ve done tonight feels really special. It hasn’t sunk in yet because we still have another leg to play, but I’m thrilled to contribute to such an important win.”

Arsenal now head to Madrid with a commanding lead and their sights set on their first Champions League semi-final appearance since 2009.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid face an uphill battle to overturn the deficit and keep their title defense alive.

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