Mikel Arteta (43), Arsenal manager, expressed satisfaction with the victory over Real Madrid.

Arsenal won 3-0 against Real Madrid, led by Declan Rice's multiple goals, in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League home match held at the Arsenal Stadium in London, England, on the 9th (Korean time).

With this, Arsenal gained an advantageous position for advancing to the semifinals. Although many were predicting a victory for Real before the match, Arsenal completely dominated 'the kings of the Champions League' Real Madrid, utilizing their home advantage.

That day, Arsenal lined up in a 4-3-3 formation. At the forefront were Gabriel Martinelli, Mikel Merino, and Bukayo Saka, while the midfield consisted of Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, and Martin Ødegaard. The back four was made up of Miles Lewis-Skelly, Jakub Kiwior, William Saliba, and Jurriën Timber. The goalkeeper's gloves were worn by David Raya.

Real Madrid faced off in a 4-4-2 formation. Vinícius and Kylian Mbappé led the attack, while the midfield included Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Luka Modrić, and Rodrygo. The back four consisted of David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger, Raúl Asensio, and Federico Valverde. The goal was guarded by Thibaut Courtois.

The first half concluded without any goals as both teams operated cautiously. Arsenal sought chances with a buildup centered around Rice and Ødegaard, while Real struck back with counterattacks led by Vinícius, but lacked finishing. The first half ended 0-0.

As the second half began, the atmosphere changed dramatically. Arsenal gained momentum through a well-prepared set-piece strategy. In the 14th minute of the second half, Rice took a free kick just outside the box, delivering an accurate shot that Thibaut Courtois failed to respond to, shaking the net. Arsenal went ahead 1-0.

Following the first goal, Arsenal became even more aggressive. In the 21st minute of the second half, Martinelli's shot was blocked by Courtois, and Merino attempted another shot, but was thwarted by Real's fierce defense. A subsequent corner kick also saw Bellingham's desperate defense.

In the 26th minute of the second half, Rice took another free kick opportunity and delivered an even more perfectly curled shot into the corner of the goal. Arsenal extended the lead to 2-0.

With the momentum on their side, Arsenal struck a dagger goal in the 30th minute of the second half. A pass from Trossard was consolidated calmly into the center by Lewis-Skelly, and Merino completed it with a left-footed shot, making the score 3-0.

Real collapsed rapidly. During second-half stoppage time, Camavinga received a warning for unnecessary time-wasting, leading to a cumulative dismissal and self-destruction. The disappointment was even greater as the warning had come when the game was already out of reach.

In the end, Arsenal dominated Real Madrid with a perfect performance at home, taking a favorable position for advancing to the semifinals.

After the match, the UEFA Champions League reported through its official website on an interview with Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager. Arteta noted, "Today, the team showed a high level of overall completion and great performance. To cause problems against Real Madrid, we needed organization and execution, and we performed well in those areas."

He said, "There were two things that made this match special. The atmosphere created before the match, which was an energy I had never seen before, and the magical individual moments that changed the game. Rice's two goals perfectly summarized that."

He talked more about Rice's free kick. Arteta praised, "Rice was really persistent. He kept mentioning that we hadn't scored from a direct free kick since September 2021. It had been a long time, and in such a situation, a player who had never scored from a free kick in his career scored two such quality goals. This is an incredibly significant achievement."

Arteta added, "I thought it was definitely possible. During the preparation process, I could clearly feel the team atmosphere and focus. We had the belief and conviction that we could be a significant threat to Real. The key to this match was 'let's make it happen.' I believed that if we had the right mindset and faith, anything was possible, and we showed that today. It's still just the first half, but I am really happy today."

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