Martin Odegaard put his hands on his head unbelieving. Thibaut Courtois looked at his knees. Declan Rice rubbed in the celebration – again. He had never scored a direct free kick. Now he had two in 12 minutes. Against Real Madrid.
The first of Rice's free kicks seemed extraordinary enough, curled in the post in style that is reminiscent of Madrid legend Roberto Carlos. The second was almost unbelievable and arched of a similar distance in the top corner. Within the ground, supporters still gathered when Mikel Merino sent the third.
This was not only a victory but a demolition. There is of course the small issue of coming a second stage. Carlo Ancelotti admitted that his side has a “low possibility” to go up in a Downbeat press conference, but this is Real Madrid. The tie is not over yet. It's never with them. “It's only the peace,” said Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal, however, has made their statement. Arteta said before the competition that they had shown their assets in recent years to compete with a team in Europe. His belief in his side, even in a difficult season, shone. It is clear that it is answered by the players.
There were fearful moments in the hectic early stages, a swing and a Miss from Jakub Kiwior, starting instead of the wounded Gabriel Magalhaes, allowing Kylian Mbappe to get a shot; A mishit pass from the recurring Bukayo Saka with which Vinicius JR could load ahead during the break.
But Arsenal settled quickly. Real Madrid continued to threaten in a first half in a first half, but Arsenal had better. Saka's return to the starting line-up after injury felt like a huge lift and so it proved. He would eventually get tired, but before that time there was a series of low crosses that begged to be converted.
Arteta had talked about the need to consider the lessons of last year's quarterfinals against Bayern Munich, when Arsenal could not take advantage of their early dominance and finally pulled the first stage 2-2. During the break on Tuesday evening, however, it felt like a similar story. Madrid was probably the happier from the two sides.
That didn't last long.
Arteta had warned about the individual quality of Real Madrid; Their ability to change games into an instant. But Arsenal also has it, even if it came from an unlikely source in this case. Rice had never scored a direct free kick. Arsenal had no longer scored since September 2021.
However, rice continues to evolve; A world -class player who adds layers to his game. He arrived in Arsenal as a no. 6. Many supporters would still prefer that he is being used there. But Arteta sees him as a no. 8 and the phenomenal ball-snow power that is shown for his free kicks is just one of the many reasons why.
He has become an attacking force.
Rice now has 11 goals and 14 assists in 51 games that play as a no. 8 for Arsenal. Since the injury of Kai Havertz in February, he enjoyed the chance to get even more ahead.
In this game, at a pitch with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius JR and the rest, Rice had more shots than any other player, with five, and also more touches in the opposition box, with nine – even when his best work came out about 10 meters.
Out of possession, he showed his usual ruthlessness, as a result of which Arsenal Force errors helped high on the field as part of their press, especially in the first half. His free kicks were of course the story, but Rice summarizes the all-round excellence on his best.
He was not the only one who sparkled. This was a collective triumph, but it is impossible not to mention the contribution of Myles Lewis-Skelly, the second-jongest Englishman, to start a quarterfinals of the Champions League, after 18 years and 194 days old, behind Jude Bellingham, who spent part of the competition that pursued him.
He produced the assist for the third goal, finding Merino with a square pass on the edge of the box, but that was just one of the many striking moments, and actually a rare example of a pass that he did not led. Usually he could be seen who shout the ball through the lines, looking for runners, making things happen.
Lewis-Skelly, this teenager who had not played a senior game only a few months ago, ended this, Arsenal's biggest in decades, after he had made more passes in the last third than any other player Bar Martin Odegaard. He kept Rodrygo silent on the left when he did not stop in midfield, so that challenges were bent past, as fearless as always.
Arsenal has to wear the same spirit to the Bernabeu next week. But they will go there with an advantage of three goals and all the beliefs that go with it. The second stage will again be a chance to bend their muscles as a coming force on the European stage.
For now, however, they can enjoy the dizzying triumph of the first.
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