Arsenal's European Night to Remember

In what will go down as one of their greatest European performances, Arsenal dismantled 15-time champions Real Madrid 3-0 at Emirates Stadium, putting one foot in the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2009.

Key Moments:

• Rice's double free-kick masterclass (58', 70')
• Merino's clinical finish (65')
• Camavinga's late red card
• Courtois' heroic saves (8 total)

Tactical Breakdown

Arsenal's Set-Piece Brilliance Nicolas Jover's set-piece magic continued as:

• Arsenal scored from 2/3 direct free kicks
• 71% aerial duel success rate
• Outmuscled Madrid's defense on corners

Rice's Coming of Age The £105m midfielder:

• 92% pass accuracy
• 3 key passes
• First career free-kick goals (from 0.6 xG combined)

Defensive Resolve Kiwior's redemption arc:

• Recovered from early error
• 5 clearances
• 3 interceptions

Madrid's Woes

The Road Ahead

Bernabéu Second Leg Outlook

• Madrid need 4+ goals to progress
• Only 3 teams have reversed 3+ goal UCL deficits
• Arsenal's last 5 away games: 4 clean sheets

"This was our statement to Europe," - Arteta post-match

Historical Context

• Arsenal's biggest UCL knockout win
• First English team to beat Madrid by 3+ since 2009
• Rice joins Beckham as only Englishmen with UCL free-kick brace