Arsenal produced one of the all-time great Champions League performances to beat Real Madrid in north London. An evening that every single fan inside the ground and wherever else in the world will remember forever.
An early penalty call was waved away by VAR after Declan Rice saw a shot hit Raul Asencio on the arm. The Gunners came so very close in later in the same half as two Bukayo Saka crosses went agonisingly by the back post.
Arsenal would claim the lead at the start of the second half with Declan Rice again involved in the biggest way, stepping up to curl in a direct free-kick. But then things got even better as Rice curled one into the top right-hand corner.
Mikel Merino then managed to find to bottom left-hand corner with a beautiful strike to send the Emirates Stadium into bedlam. This is the greatest result in the history of this still young stadium, period.
Here is how football.london rated the performances of the Arsenal players:
David Raya – Good save from Kylian Mbappe in a one-on-one situation as Real Madrid countered. Collected crosses and mastered his box beautifully throughout the game. 8
Jurrien Timber – Man of the match in the first half, the Netherlands international was a physically superior player to all others and beat so many Real Madrid opponents in duels. 8
William Saliba – Had to mop up a few Jakub Kiwior mistakes in the first half as his typical teammate Gabriel Magalhaes watched on from the stands. His overall display was just so calm and provided the perfect platform for his team to build from. 7
Jakub Kiwior – Couple of early mistakes from the Polish international with loose passes and touches leaving Saliba with a lot of work to do. However, in the end he came through the game with a clean sheet which in itself is quite the achievement against this particular opposition. 7
Myles Lewis-Skelly – It still amazes me that Myles Lewis-Skelly finds himself in this particular game, but it was his pass which found Mikel Merino that set up the third goal. He completed the match with poise and maturity, brilliant! 8
Thomas Partey – Shot from outside the box early in the first half, tame and right at Courtois. Was booked for leaving an arm in on Camavinga rather cynically. However he managed several key interceptions and tackles and helped shield the back line very well indeed. 8
Declan Rice – We will get to… that! Had an effort in the box blocked by Raul Asencio, which was certainly a controversial decision from the first half. Then saw a header parried away from goal by Courtois. But it would indeed be rice to raise the roof after curling in a direct free-kick.
But then he managed to top even the first strike, finding the postage stamp top right-hand corner with an effort you only see in a video game! 9
Martin Odegaard – Some moments where the sharpness of the Odegaard of old was again lacking but he did find a gorgeous pass to Saka in the first half for one of those crosses. He grew into the game and was fighting for every ball and chasing every press. 7
Bukayo Saka – Produced a brilliant run down the right before the 40th minute, beating David Alaba to cross past Courtois and leaving the ball rolling agonising beyond the back post where no one gambled. He managed another one that squeezed just behind Martinelli minutes later. He would be the man to win that free-kick and allowed Rice to take it. He did come off the field early and the hope will be he is not injured. 8
Gabriel Martinelli – Had the chance to score in the first half after watching Courtois parry Rice’s shot and hit the rebound volley immediately back in the direction of the Belgian. 7
Mikel Merino – I had been writing in the first half how it was evident how much Arsenal lacked a natural centre-forward. Well didn’t I just eat my own words? Brilliant strike into the bottom-left hand corner. 8
Substitutes
Leandro Trossard – Came on for Declan Rice and helped the Gunners see out an important result. 6
Kieran Tierney – What a spectacle, 3-0 up at home against Real Madrid and Kieran Tierney is playing left wing. He managed to win a great foul in his own box too which also got a huge roar. 7
Ben White - Came on with very little time remaining. n/a
