Arsenal took a giant step toward their first Champions League semi-final in 16 years with a stunning 3-0 victory over Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium.
The Tuesday night fixture had Declan Rice as the unlikely hero.
Rice, who had never scored a direct free-kick in over 400 professional appearances, netted two spectacular efforts from 25 yards in the space of 12 minutes, dismantling the 15-time European champions in sensational fashion.
Both goals left Thibaut Courtois, a veteran of countless high-stakes nights rooted and helpless.
Mikel Merino added a third late in the second half, capping a dominant spell in which Arsenal scored three times in 17 minutes, leaving the Emirates crowd in raptures and Carlo Ancelotti’s side stunned.
The win was all the more impressive given the Gunners were without a recognised centre-forward or first-choice centre-back.
Yet, they dictated play so fine, shutting down Real’s star-studded attack led by Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham.
Rice, operating far more aggressively than his usual holding role, was at the heart of everything.
He nearly completed a hat-trick, only to be denied twice, once by Courtois and again by Bellingham on the goal line.
Real Madrid, who were shaky defensively and uninspired in attack, will now need to produce a historic comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu next week.
But if this performance is anything to go by, Arsenal look ready to end their long exile from Europe’s top table.
