Gideon Animashaun
On April 8, 2025, Arsenal dazed Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Emirates Stadium.
The match ended in a convincing 3-0 victory for the Gunners, marking a significant achievement in their campaign.
For Madrid, the game is not over until the second leg is over.
Both the players and their coach believe they can still make it.
“We’re totally convinced we can turn it around, this is Real Madrid, positive mindset and let’s go for it,” defender Raul Asencio said after the match while Lucas Vazquez promised the second leg would be different.M
He noted: “If there’s one team in the world that can turn this around, it’s us, with our fans, with our pitch, our stadium. Next Wednesday will be a totally different game to this and together we will get it done.”
And for Coach Carlo Ancelotti: “In football, anything can happen.”
Whether Arsenal will be so dumb to allow all their gains drown is going to be anothjer story.
Now globally-celebrated Declan Rice was the standout player of the match, scoring two stunning free kicks.
His first goal came in the 58th minute, bending around the wall and leaving goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois stranded, while the second curled into the top corner in the 70th minute.
The news of Rice’s remarkable performance was shared widely on social media platforms, including Twitter and Instagram, where fans celebrated his first-ever direct free-kick goals in professional football.
His contributions were crucial in solidifying Arsenal’s dominance during the match.
Mikel Merino added a third goal in the 75th minute, finishing off a swift team move initiated by Rice.
This goal further emphasised Arsenal’s control over the game and their offensive capabilities.
Defensively, Arsenal demonstrated resilience by effectively neutralizing Real Madrid’s counter-attacks.
Young defenders Jakub Kiwior and Myles Lewis-Skelly, along with William Saliba, played pivotal roles in keeping star player Kylian Mbappé in check.
Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga received a second yellow card in the 94th minute, resulting in a red card that will see him miss the return leg of the quarter-final.
This incident added to the challenges facing the Spanish side.
Arsenal’s 3-0 victory gives them a significant advantage heading into the second leg at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
However, they must remain cautious, acknowledging Real Madrid’s history of remarkable comebacks in the competition.