Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid: Player ratings as Rice free-kick double stuns holders
- Arsenal enjoyed special Emirates night in emphatic victory over Real Madrid
- Declan Rice struck twice with outstanding free-kicks
- Gunners closing in on Champions League semi-finals
Arsenal produced an outstanding display in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, with their 3-0 victory at the Emirates leaving the holders on the brink of elimination.
Some billed the first leg as the biggest occasion at the Emirates since the stadium's opening - although, some might've forgotten the 2009 semi-final against Manchester United - and the Gunners were intent on delivering in front of their supporters.
Real Madrid's threat manifested early via a swift Vinicius Junior breakaway from a sloppy Bukayo Saka pass, but William Saliba's intervention prevented the hosts from falling behind.
Mikel Arteta's side then grew in stature and started to take advantage of Madrid's passivity out of possession. Myles Lewis-Skelly shone in the build-up, and he started the sequence which led to Thomas Partey's shot from the edge of the box, saved by Thibaut Courtois.
Kylian Mbappe was denied by David Raya in what was Madrid's most notable moment of the first half, with Arsenal finishing the opening period the stronger of the two sides as Bukayo Saka grew into the game.
Mbappe hit the side netting with a half-chance at the start of the second half, but then it was time for Declan Rice to steal the show. The Englishman struck not once, but twice with utterly stunning free-kicks to break the quarter-final open.
The night only got better for Arsenal, who added a third soon after through Mikel Merino. The Spaniard finished with aplomb from the edge of the area to thrust the Gunners into an imperious position in the tie.
A late Eduardo Camavinga sending off capped a miserable night for the visitors, who must work a mini-miracle on home soil to advance.
Arsenal player ratings (4-3-3)
Player | Rating |
|---|---|
GK: David Raya | 8.0/10 |
RB: Jurrien Timber | 7.7/10 |
CB: William Saliba | 7.1/10 |
CB: Jakub Kiwior | 7.1/10 |
LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly | 8.1/10 |
CM: Martin Odegaard | 6.6/10 |
CM: Thomas Partey | 7.7/10 |
CM: Declan Rice | 9.0/10 |
RW: Bukayo Saka | 7.0/10 |
ST: Mikel Merino | 7.8/10 |
LW: Gabriel Martinelli | 7.1/10 |
SUB: Leandro Trossard (74' for Saka) | 6.3/10 |
SUB: Kieran Tierney (80' for Rice) | 6.1/10 |
SUB: Ben White (90' for Timber) | N/A |
Subs not used: Neto (GK), Tommy Setford (GK), Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jimi Gower, Jorginho, Ethan Nwaneri, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.
Real Madrid player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Player | Rating |
|---|---|
GK: Thibaut Courtois | 6.9/10 |
RB: Federico Valverde | 6.2/10 |
CB: Raul Asencio | 5.9/10 |
CB: Antonio Rudiger | 5.5/10 |
LB: David Alaba | 6.5/10 |
CM: Luka Modric | 7.0/10 |
CM: Eduardo Camavinga | 6.4/10 |
RW: Rodrygo | 6.8/10 |
AM: Jude Bellingham | 6.9/10 |
LW: Vinicius Junior | 5.9/10 |
ST: Kylian Mbappe | 7.0/10 |
SUB: Lucas Vazquez (71' for Modric) | 6.1/10 |
SUB: Fran Garcia (79' for Alaba) | 6.5/10 |
SUB: Brahim Diaz (85' for Rodrygo) | N/A |
Subs not used: Fran Gonzalez (GK), Sergio Mestre (GK), Jacobo Ramon, Jesus Vallejo, Lorenzo Aguado, Chema Andres, Gonzalo Garcia, Arda Guler, Endrick.
Player of the match - Declan Rice (Arsenal)
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