Arsenal produced a sensational performance on Tuesday night at the Emirates Stadium, overwhelming Spanish giants Real Madrid with a 3-0 victory in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Defying expectations, Mikel Arteta’s side dominated proceedings from the outset, displaying tactical discipline, attacking flair, and clinical finishing that left the reigning champions reeling.

England international Declan Rice was the star of the show, netting two spectacular free-kicks — his first ever in professional football — to give the Gunners a commanding lead. Mikel Merino added a third goal, further deepening Madrid’s woes.

The visitors’ night went from bad to worse when Eduardo Camavinga was sent off late in the game for dissent, compounding Real’s frustration and leaving them in disarray ahead of the return leg.

Despite the heroics, Rice remained modest in his post-match reaction:

“I don’t know whether it will ever sink in. I’ve just gone back to my phone and it’s gone crazy. To score my first free-kick in a game is special — and then to get a second, I’m speechless really.”

“To beat Real Madrid in this competition, it’s a big night for us,” he added.

Arsenal’s comprehensive victory puts them in a strong position heading into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu on April 16. A semi-final clash with either Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa awaits the winner.

This result marks a significant milestone for the North London club, who are aiming to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009. Manager Mikel Arteta, who had called the fixture the “biggest night” of his career, lauded his players’ performance and emphasized the need for focus ahead of the return leg.

“Even if we’re 3-0 up, the individual quality they have is scary. At the Bernabéu, special things happen for them,” Rice cautioned. “But we want to be in the Champions League semi-finals.”

With this historic win, Arsenal now stand just 90 minutes away from reaching the last four — and possibly writing a new chapter in their European journey.