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Declan Rice scored two sensational free-kicks to send Arsenal on their way to a remarkable 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash.

Rice delivered his first stunning set-piece with 58 minutes gone before striking again 12 minutes later. Mikel Merino grabbed a third to send the Emirates into dreamland ahead of next week's return fixture at the Bernabeu.

FULL MATCH DETAILS

The 15-time European Cup winners had no answer for a rampant Arsenal as Mikel Arteta’s men pulled off a statement win which sees them put one foot in the semi-finals as they bid to win the Champions League for the first time.

Speaking prior to Tuesday’s match, Arteta said he was convinced his side could beat Real Madrid and write their own history, and so it proved on a truly one-sided night in north London that will possibly go down as the club’s finest on the European stage.

Bukayo Saka made his first start in 108 days following hamstring surgery and he was central to Arsenal’s success, winning both free-kicks that Rice so brilliantly converted.

Such is their pedigree in Europe, Real Madrid would have started the fixture as favourites, and Kylian Mbappe signalled the start of an electric opening period when he fired down the throat of goalkeeper David Raya with just 37 seconds gone.

Arsenal responded through Saka when his cross was thumped away by Antonio Rudiger only for the defender’s clearance to cannon off team-mate Eduardo Camavinga and drop just inches wide of Thibaut Courtois’ far post.

Thomas Partey then called Courtois into action after 13 minutes when his low drive – following fine work in the build-up by Gabriel Martinelli – was saved by the Belgian’s toe.

On the half-hour mark, a good chance arrived