Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid Player Ratings: The Gunners delivered a masterclass as they thrashed Real Madrid in the 1st leg

Arsenal made a statement at the Emirates Stadium as they beat Real Madrid 3-0. A strong quarter-final display sees them head into the second leg as favourites. The game started as a close and edgy affair, but the Gunners broke the deadlock in the second half. Declan Rice scored a sensational brace of free kicks to give them the lead. Mikel Merino scored a third goal in quick succession to potentially decide the tie before the ball was even kicked in Spain. Real Madrid ended the night with 10 as Eduardo Camavinga saw red.

Arsenal came into this game on the back of a draw against Everton in the league. The Gunners were struggling in front of goal, and Mikel Arteta handed Bukayo Saka his first start after his injury layoff. In defence, they had to contend with the loss of Gabriel, who was out for the season. Jakub Kiwior lined up in probably the biggest game of his career. Arteta’s men needed to be perfect for 180 minutes if they were to reach a first Champions League semi-final in 16 years.

Real Madrid too was pegged back by Valencia in their La Liga title race as they suffered another defeat. Thibaut Courtois coming back into the starting lineup was a huge relief for Carlo Ancelotti. He placed Federico Valverde and David Alaba at full-back to deal with Arsenal’s trickery on the wings. Luka Modric paired with Eduardo Camavinga, who came back into the lineup along with Rodrygo.

The visitors had an early sight of goal via Kylian Mbappe as Kiwior misjudged a long throw-in. The Frenchman could only test the keeper from 30 yards out in the first minute. His forward partner, Vinicius Jr, shortly had a pop at goal as well, but William Saliba was crucial in deterring that. It was then the turn of the Gunners to attack as Real Madrid survived a corner and a penalty shout as Thomas Partey had a great chance to score.

The game then settled into an impasse around the end of the first quarter before bursting into a lively affair after the 30-minute mark. It became an end-to-end affair as both sides were making good tackles and starting fine moves but didn’t have a final product to show for it. Jude Bellingham in one such move won the ball and released Mbappe with a through pass. The ever-reliable forward opened his body up but wasn’t able to beat David Raya in goal as he shot straight at him.

Arsenal started to put more pressure toward the end of the first half as Martin Odegaard and Saka linked up delightfully on their right-hand side. The Gunners sorely missed a number 9 to attack the crosses that Saka kept sending into corridors of uncertainty. Declan Rice filled that void by making an excellent run and drawing a fabulous save from Courtois, who parried it. Gabriel Martinelli picked it up and shot immediately, but the Belgian goalkeeper stood up and made a wonderful double save. These attempts helped the hosts register a strong end to the first half and much to fight for in the second half.

Real Madrid started the second half with similar intent on the breaks as Mbappe fired into the outside of the side netting from the left flank. Bukayo Saka was a thorn in Madrid’s side as David Alaba brought him down unnecessarily around the hour mark. Declan Rice stepped up to take the resulting free kick and scored an absolutely sensational goal to give his side the lead. The English international curled his effort around a four-man wall and got it beyond the reach of a fantastic Courtois to send the Emirates Stadium into ecstasy.

The goal gave a bit of swagger to the hosts as their every action looked enhanced after the hour mark. They were denied thrice in the same sequence by the Spanish champions who were hanging on their hopes. Martinelli’s shot was parried away by Courtois before Mikel Merino had his first effort blocked on the line by David Alaba. He got a second bite of the cherry, but Courtois then made a flashing save to send it out for a corner. Bellingham again cleared Rice’s effort off the line from the following corner.

Declan Rice did something unthinkable when he stepped up for another free kick shortly afterwards. The lightning did strike twice as he scored yet another pearler that curled and swerved beyond Courtois’s reach to hit the inside side netting. The Englishman doubled his season’s goal tally in the span of 15 minutes as he put his side on the brink of a Champions League semi-final.

Mikel Merino then struck the death blow to Real Madrid’s hopes in the game and tie potentially as he tripled his side’s advantage. Real Madrid’s defence split so easily as Arsenal emerged on a break. Myles Lewis-Skelly found Merino in the box, and the Spaniard found a finish into the bottom corner on the turn that any centre-forward would be proud of.

They had to safely negate the last 15 minutes of the game to avoid any slip-ups. Real Madrid looked jaded as they had no responses to any of the goals from the Gunners as the game ended 3-0 to Arsenal. It left them on the cusp of the first Champions League semi-finals in 16 years.

Arsenal made a statement with a fantastic performance to take a precious lead going into Santiago Bernabeu. A three-goal advantage is too good to be overturned, but they will expect the hosts to rain fire on them next week. Real Madrid have all to do at their home as they struggled on the road against a fluent Gunners side. The Gunners face London rivals Brentford on Saturday, and Real Madrid travels to Alaves on Sunday in their league endeavours.

Here are the Arsenal vs Real Madrid Player Ratings.

Arsenal Player Ratings

GK – David Raya – 7/10

A good stop in the first minute to warm up for his task. Denied Mbappe brilliantly by spreading himself around the 30-minute mark. He was pretty much a spectator in the second half.

RB – Jurrien Timber – 7.5/10

Played as a conservative right-back by being the third centre-back in build-up often. He was up against Vinicus on his flank but didn’t shy away from putting a tackle on him when needed. Delivered some nice crosses from the half-spaces.

CB – William Saliba – 7.5/10

An absolutely huge block to divert Vinicius’s pass into the path of Raya as Mbappe was lurking behind him. Played the role of the leader of defence excellently by controlling the backline.

CB – Jakub Kiwior – 6.5/10

Made a nervous start to the game as he misjudged a throw-in. Tried to be aggressive in his approach and follow the attackers deep into their halves. His passing was off-colour as he gave the ball away a couple of times.

LB – Myles Lewis-Skelly – 7.5/10

Started as a left-back on paper, but he was everywhere on the pitch. Such was his freedom as he inverted into midfield to run the show and also bombed forward on the left flank to create an overlap. Picked up an assist with a cushioned pass for Merino.

CM – Martin Odegaard – 6.5/10

Started the game slowly, but his passes and linkup with Saka were back in full effect as he slipped the English winger in behind multiple times.

CM – Thomas Partey – 7/10

A great start to the game saw him win plenty of tackles early on. He should’ve given them the lead with an early effort. His ability to deputise as a full-back and cover multiple counters stood out.

CM – Declan Rice – 9/10

He was constantly winning the ball back for them as Real Madrid looked set to play on counters. Drove the ball forward when necessary and attacked the box like a striker in the absence of a natural one. Should have scored with an excellent header before half-time. Stepped up with a beautiful free kick to open the scoring. He has only gone on to make it a brace with yet another sensational free kick.

RW – Bukayo Saka – 7/10

A dangerous presence on the right wing as he took on his marker and sent teasing deliveries into the six-yard box. More often than not, there was no player in red attacking them. He narrowly overhit a couple of good chances as well. Left the pitch with yet another injury concern, and it might worry everyone.

ST – Mikel Merino – 7.5/10

Started another game as the striker in Arteta’s setup. But his inability to be on the end of dangerous crosses is hurting the Gunners. Often spent his time on the edge of the box and on the wrong side of the centrebacks. Kept on trying and got his reward with an extremely well-taken left-footed finish.

LW – Gabriel Martinelli – 7/10

Got in behind Federico Valverde easily multiple times. But he couldn’t find a successful pass at the end of those runs. Had a great chance to give them the lead with a rebound, but Courtois made a fine save. Involved in yet another double-save situation but couldn’t get the goal.

Sub – Leandro Trossard – 6/10

Sub – Kieran Tierney- 6/10

Sub – Ben White – 6/10

Manager – Mikel Arteta – 8/10

Named the strongest XI at his disposal, as they made a nervy start to the game. But he calmed them down as they regained lost ground and finished the half on a high. The lack of a number nine was again evidently visible. A second-half blitz made him the favourite to reach the Champions League semis after a long wait. Saka’s potential injury is the only black mark on this epic performance.

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Real Madrid Player Ratings

GK – Thibaut Courtois – 7/10

He was fairly untested till the point he made a double save. A strong parry on a Declan Rice header, followed by getting up and punching Martinelli’s rebound, proved how good he was. He was still very efficient with the ball at his feet when pressed. Another great double save in the second half, but he couldn’t get anywhere near any of the goals the hosts scored.

RB – Federico Valverde – 6/10

Did have a tough time marking Martinelli as he ran in behind him multiple times. Couldn’t offer an attacking threat as he was pinned down in defence more often than not.

CB – Raul Asencio – 6/10

Another good performance from the youngster as he was unfazed by the occasion. Was confident with the ball at his feet and assured in his challenges as they kept Arsenal at bay.

CB – Antonio Rudiger – 5.5/10

Stuck with Mikel Merino for the most part. But he was beaten in the air by Rice, who made a late into the box to attack a cross. Failed to mark Merino for the third goal.

LB – David Alaba – 4.5/10

A surprise start at full-back to deal with the threat of Saka. He was fairly beaten by the winger, but to his relief, there was no end product. When he emerged on a good run forward, he was ignored by Vinicius. Needlessly brought Saka down to concede the free kick that led to the opener.

DM – Luka Modric – 6/10

He brought the physical side of the game today, along with his oozing class on the ball as both midfielders clashed. Kept the ball flowing with neat and tidy passes. Faded in the second half as Arsenal controlled the game.

DM – Eduardo Camavinga – 6/10

Stationed alongside Modric, he played very defensively by making plenty of challenges on the ground to kill some Arsenal momentum. Went forward and had a pop at the goal, but it was well off the mark. Picked up a second yellow card and was sent off with the second remaining.

RW – Rodrygo – 5/10

He was a bit anonymous in the attack as he failed to take advantage of Myles Lewis-Skellt venturing all over the pitch. Failed to provide the necessary defensive cover as well.

CAM – Jude Bellingham – 5.5/10

Had a lot of good moments in the middle of the park where he won the ball and played some forward passes. When he came back to defend, Saka teased him well to beat him fairly. Couldn’t help his side regain the lost control in midfield as he was brushed aside easily.

LW – Vinicus Jr – 5.5/10

Another sloppy start to the game as he gave the ball away quite a bit. Failed to slip in Mbappe when he had the chance as Saliba got in the way to cut the pass out. No impact in the second half as his side barely saw the ball.

ST – Kylian Mbappe – 6/10

An eventful start to the game with a couple of shots. But he should’ve scored after racing onto Bellingham’s pass. Failed to beat the keeper at his far post. Could only express his dismay at what was happening after his side conceded three in quick succession.

Sub – Lucas Vazquez – 6/10

Sub – Fran Garcia – 6/10

Sub – Brahim Diaz – 6/10

Manager – Carlo Ancelotti – 4/10

They started the game strongly, but he didn’t have the answers as Arsenal started piling on pressure before the break. A concrete game plan wasn’t visible as they created all their chances on transitions. The second-half performance was a nightmare as his side had all sorts of control of the game and they fell behind by three goals. It might be a bit too much for his side as well.

Sportsdunia’s Player of the Match: Declan Rice

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