Arsenal have taken a significant step toward securing their first Champions League semi-final appearance in 16 years with a dominant 3-0 victory over Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

In a thrilling display of football, Declan Rice emerged as the unlikely hero for Arsenal, putting in a performance that will go down in history. Rice, who had never scored a direct free-kick in his over 400 professional appearances, stunned the crowd with two remarkable goals from 25 yards within a span of just 12 minutes. These two goals, which left Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, stranded and helpless, played a crucial role in dismantling the 15-time European champions.

Rice’s brace was followed by a third goal from Mikel Merino in the latter stages of the second half, capping off a devastating 17-minute spell in which Arsenal scored three times, sending the Emirates Stadium crowd into a frenzy while leaving Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid side visibly stunned and out of sorts.

This win was even more impressive considering that Arsenal were without their recognised centre-forward or first-choice centre-back, yet they dictated the game from start to finish. The Gunners completely shut down Real Madrid’s star-studded attack, which featured players such as Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Jude Bellingham.

Rice, typically known for his defensive duties, played a much more aggressive role in this fixture, and was at the heart of everything Arsenal created. His performance was so commanding that he nearly completed a hat-trick, only to be denied first by Courtois and then by a last-minute clearance off the goal line by Bellingham.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, looked disjointed both defensively and in attack. They will now face the difficult task of producing a historic comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu next week, a challenge that seems daunting after such a one-sided first-leg performance from Arsenal.

If this commanding performance is anything to go by, Arsenal are not only ready to take on the challenge but also look poised to end their long absence from Europe’s elite competition, with their sights set on reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in over a decade.