Arsenal vs Real Madrid LIVE RESULT: Declan Rice scores TWO stunning free-kicks as Gunners take control of quarter-final

Full match stats

In fact, here are the full stats from the game.

Interesting to see the possession appear as close as it did given the numbers here...

Odds next week

Real Madrid are favourites to win next week's game, but surely this tie is out of sight.

Match odds

• Real Madrid 9/10
• Draw 9/4
• Arsenal 14/5

To Qualify

• Real Madrid 8/1
• Arsenal 1/14

Hey, Jude

Jude Bellingham could only watch open-mouthed as England team-mate Declan Rice turned on the style at the Emirates.

Moments after the £100million-man hit the top corner with his first freekick, Bellingham was spotted looking helplessly towards a stern-faced Carlo Ancelotti on the sideline.

Cameras immediately panned to the England man again after Rice repeated the trick just over 10 minutes later.

Bellingham was seen shaking his head in disbelief, with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta also clearly in shock on the touchline.

Mbappe's reaction

Real ace Mbappe caught fans off-guard as he reacted to the second of Rice’s free-kick goals.

Mbappe seemed to show his appreciation for Rice’s strike as he made his way back to the halfway line.

The striker, who joined Real on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, watched Rice’s free-kick sail past Thibaut Courtois.

Mbappe then turned on his heels before retreating down the pitch.

And as he did so, the French World Cup winner was seen raising his eyebrows and flicking his head in acknowledgement of the hit.

Defiant Rice

Declan Rice defied set-piece coach Nicolas Jover's advice and listened to his teammate Bukayo Saka instead.

The midfielder was given instructions to deliver the ball into the box but thought better of it.

Rice said: "Martin [Odegaard] was saying to cross, I said it doesn’t make sense to chip it like that.

"We practice them all the time, Jover is telling me to cross and it didn’t make sense."

"Bukayo said, the actual words were, 'If you feel it, go for it.'

"I looked at the wall and looked at the keeper and thought I could bend it and that’s what happened."

Rice added: "I don’t know if it will ever sink in. "I fancied both (free-kicks) and to have the confidence, I am a bit speechless."

Path to the semi-final

​Arsenal delivered a commanding performance, securing a 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

This win now provides a significant advantage ahead of the second leg at Santiago Bernabéu on April 16.

However, Real Madrid has a history of comebacks in the Champions League, often referred to as the 'magic' of the Bernabéu.

Despite the current lead, Arsenal will need to approach the match with focus and determination to secure their place in the semi-finals.

Match recap

Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 victory over Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium.

Despite having no prior goals from direct free-kicks in his professional career, Rice netted two stunning set-piece goals.

For the first set-piece, coach Nicolas Jover had initially instructed a cross, but teammate Bukayo Saka encouraged Rice to take the shot.

Rice broke the deadlock with a stunning free kick in the 58th minute.

He then bettered that with another strike into the top-right corner.

And Mikel Merino sealed the victory with a well-timed goal in the 75th minute, capitalizing on a precise pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Good morning, Arsenal fans

Blimey, it wasn't a dream!

Just as you're waking up, Declan Rice is probably still struggling to get to sleep after his heroics last night.

A 3-0 lead to take to the Bernabeu is likely so much more than any Gunners fan could've hoped for.

As Mikel Arteta said last night, Declan Rice's two stunning free kick sort of summed the night up.

Real Madrid came out defiant, saying the tie wasn't over. Mhmm....

ARSENAL 3 REAL MADRID 0

Watch Rice score TWO free-kicks as Gunners have one foot in semis

Two from five

Isn't it mad sometimes, football?

Five efforts on goal from Rice last night, three of which coming from inside the box.

And the two he scores coming from distance...

Comeback?

Real Madrid have never come from three goals behind to win a Champions League tie.

Granted, they won't have been that far behind in a tie after the first leg before.

But Ancelotti said: "There is always a first time. You have to try. The only thing you can do together is to try, and we will try.

"They are a really good team. Compact all the time and good on the ball. They are a good team. I said this yesterday. No news.

"The comeback starts tonight."

More from the manager

On the returning Bukayo Saka, Arteta added: "He was key. Again he elevates the level of the team. There's a fear factor every time he's on the ball. Team step off him and that creates space. He's fine, I think he was just hurt from a kick when winning the second free kick.

"We need to go there and we know we will have to step up again and we will try to win it.

"It's another step in the right direction as a team. We have to make another one and replicate what we've done tonight."

More from Rice

The last of the reaction from man of the moment, Declan Rice who told Prime Video: "I don't think it's going to hit me what I've done tonight. It's a historical night, and to score two goals against Real Madrid.

"We want to win this competition. But we have to take it one game at a time.

"Even at West Ham and ever since I've been here everyone's been telling me to shoot more. It's these little things and you've got to be in that mindset to score goals. I do have the ability to do it, but it's a confidence thing.

"I don't think I'll sleep tonight. I'm delighted."

Match report

Declan Rice had played in more than 400 matches as a professional footballer and never scored a direct free-kick. 

In fact, Arsenal’s £105million man has barely ever taken aim at goal with a dead ball in almost two seasons at the Emirates. 

So how about this then? In a Champions League quarter-final against the reigning, and 15-time kings of Europe, Rice decided to score two of them inside a dozen minutes. 

And both from 25 yards. Both mugging off Thibaut Courtois, one of the finest keepers in the world.

As the Emirates erupted in an ecstatic bedlam - bodies everywhere like some kind of an orgy - Arsenal’s non centre-forward Mikel Merino lashed home a third and Mikel Arteta’s men had secured a commanding lead to take into the Bernabeu next Wednesday night. 

Real Madrid are never knowingly beaten before a tie is over but the Gunners are in touching distance of a first Champions League semi-final in 16 years. 

ARSENAL 3 REAL MADRID 0

Watch Rice score TWO free-kicks as Gunners have one foot in semis

Carlo reacts

A gutted Carlo Ancelotti told Prime Video: "Arsenal were much better than us, they shot two fantastic free kicks and the game at the time changed, we were not able to react and they scored another goal and now it will be very difficult but we have to try.

"Mentally we went down, but we will try. They are a good team, compact, good with and without the ball."

Weekend games

Arsenal will also get a day more rest than Madrid ahead of next Wednesday's second leg.

The Gunners host Brentford in the Saturday teatime game.

Madrid are in action away to Alaves on Sunday.

'Pull it out the bag'

A disappointed Jude Bellingham told Prime Video: "We were nowhere near it.

"That's the fact and Arsenal were really good. I know two of their goals were free-kicks but they could have had way more.

"There is a second leg and that's what we're holding on to. We need something really special, something crazy really but one place where crazy things happen is our house.

"90 more minutes at home to pull something out of the bag."

More Rice please

More from Declan Rice, who told Prime Video: "I don't know whether it will ever sink in. I've gone back to my phone then and it's gone crazy. To score my first free-kick in a game is a special one. And then when I got the second one. I just had the confidence. I'm speechless really.

"To beat Real Madrid in this competition. It's a big night for us.

"The manager just said that then. Even if we're 3-0 up the individual quality they have is scary. At the Bernabeu special things happen for them. We want to be in the Champions League semi-finals."

Player ratings – FORWARDS

BUKAYO SAKA - 8: Had his heart in his mouth when his undershot back pass inside five minutes saw Vinicius Jr race clear, thankfully unpunished. In attack however, it has not taken him long to shake off the rust from his three-month lay-off. Left Jude Bellingham for dead down the right and his ball across should have been tapped in, and almost did the same up against David Alaba soon after.

Was kicked about a lot so no surprise he got taken off with the game done and dusted.

GABRIEL MARTINELLI - 7: Largely quiet and struggled to get the better of Federico Valverde aside from the odd surging drive. His only real chance where he came alive was a rebound from a tight angle that was straight at Thibaut Courtois.

Still, he played his part, ran his socks off, even switching to the right wing when Bukayo Saka was subbed off.

MIKEL MERINO - 9: Worked hard off the ball, dropping deep to provide space for his teammates to run in behind and led the line well, albeit without any real chance to seriously worry Thibaut Courtois in the first half.

The shackles were off later on. Should have found the net twice in the space of two seconds from six yards but made up for it with a stonking first-time curler that sent this place into orbit.

Player ratings - MIDFIELDERS

THOMAS PARTEY - 8: A real calming influence in the first half with some neat turns and nice carries as well as a few crucial interceptions to defuse any Madrid counters. On top of that, he forced Thibaut Courtois into a decent stop with a low driving effort.

MARTIN ODEGAARD - 8: A pressing machine. The Duracell Bunny has nothing on this man. The constant heartbeat of Arsenal’s shape and structure, while showcasing some neat bits of magic on the ball in Madrid territory.

DECLAN RICE - 11

Roberto Carlos eat your heart out. That’s how you score a free-kick. I’ve never heard a noise like it in this stadium and it was fully deserved. To do it once was epic. To do it twice was just outrageous.

Rice will have been frustrated not to have scored in the first half, only to score one of the best goals of his career in the second half.

At his galloping marauding best on and off the ball, getting forward as often and as quickly as possible with Thomas Partey shoring things up. This is the Rice we love to see, and should have got on the scoresheet.

Came close to a first half close-range flick that was well blocked. His brilliant header was then palmed away by Thibaut Courtois.

Player ratings - DEFENDERS

MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY - 9: Is this kid genuinely only 18? Check his passport, someone? On such a big occasion he was unflappable, drifting into midfield, finding space and losing his markers on the ball with ease.

One or two scary moments early on, but that’s the package with Lewis-Skelly right now, as well as being very fun to watch.

JAKUB KIWIOR - 7: A big night for the Pole and his first touch did not fill fans with confidence, letting a throw-in bobble over his foot and allowing Kylian Mbappe an early shot on goal.

Another iffy pass put William Saliba in all sorts of bother and Mbappe got in before the offside flag went up. Lucky not to be booked for a late swipe at Luka Modric just before the break, but battled his way through. 

WILLIAM SALIBA - 9: Had the unenviable task of keeping his fellow countryman Kylian Mbappe quiet without his defensive partner Gabriel, and do so magnificently at times.

The Frenchman is slowly developing into one of the world’s very best defenders, proving it against the very team who want to pluck him away from North London this summer.

JURRIEN TIMBER - 7: A real mixed bag in the opening 45 minutes, not helped by a nasty late challenge from Kylian Mbappe on his left ankle that took him a while to shake off.

Some brilliant work down the right combining with Bukayo Saka, but was dispossessed by Jude Bellingham who fed Mbappe in behind that could have cost them.