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<p><a target="_blank" href="https://gistreel.com/tag/arsenal"><strong>Arsenal</strong></a> took a giant step toward their first Champions League semi-final in 16 years with a stunning 3-0 victory over <strong>Real Madrid</strong> at the Emirates Stadium.</p>
<p>The Tuesday night fixture had <a target="_blank" href="https://gistreel.com/tag/declan-rice"><strong>Declan Rice</strong></a> as the unlikely hero.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Both goals left Thibaut Courtois, a veteran of countless high-stakes nights rooted and helpless.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>The win was all the more impressive given the Gunners were without a recognised centre-forward or first-choice centre-back.</p>
<p>Yet, they dictated play so fine, shutting down Real’s star-studded attack led by Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham.</p>
<p>Rice, operating far more aggressively than his usual holding role, was at the heart of everything.</p>
<p>He nearly completed a hat-trick, only to be denied twice, once by Courtois and again by Bellingham on the goal line.</p>
<p>Real Madrid, who were shaky defensively and uninspired in attack, will now need to produce a historic comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu next week.</p>
<p>But if this performance is anything to go by, Arsenal look ready to end their long exile from Europe’s top table.</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.gistreel.com/ucl-rice-double-helps-arsenal-crush-real-madrid-in-first-leg-rout/" previewlistener="true">Source link </a></p>

