Key takeaways:

• Declan Rice scored two magnificent free kicks in the 3-0 victory against Real Madrid.
• Mikel Merino added another goal as Arsenal dominated the Champions League quarter-final.
• Thibaut Courtois made several key saves, but Madrid struggled to find their rhythm.
• Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga received a red card, complicating their comeback efforts.

LONDON: In a remarkable display of skill, Declan Rice netted two stunning free kicks, propelling Arsenal to an emphatic 3-0 victory over defending champions Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-finals at the Emirates Stadium on April 8.

Arsenal's performance was dominant, with the team taking control early on as Madrid struggled to find their footing. The first half saw missed opportunities for Real, and it was Courtois who kept Madrid's hopes alive with several crucial saves, including two close-range efforts from Rice and Gabriel Martinelli.

The breakthrough for Arsenal came in the 58th minute when Rice took a direct free kick, curling the ball expertly around the wall and leaving Courtois helpless. "I just saw the wall and the goalkeeper's position, and thought ... just go for it," Rice reflected on his goal, highlighting his confidence in that moment.

Five minutes later, Rice struck again with another scintillating free kick, this time finding the top corner, and putting the 15-time European champions in a precarious position. Merino capped off the scoring in the 75th minute by converting a pull-back from Leandro Trossard, sealing the win as Arsenal heads into the second leg with a considerable advantage.

Real Madrid, despite creating chances, found themselves thwarted by Arsenal’s defense and goalkeeper David Raya. The situation was compounded by defender Camavinga receiving a second yellow card towards the end of the match for kicking the ball away, leaving Real with a tougher challenge ahead.

Manager Mikel Arteta praised his players' motivation, stating, "We've had a brilliant game, that's why we won." However, Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez remained optimistic, asserting, "The tie is complicated, but if there's one team in the world that can turn it around, it's us," referencing the team's storied European history.

As both teams prepare for the return leg at Santiago Bernabeu on April 16, Arsenal will look to maintain their lead, while Real aims to draw upon their rich history in knockout football to overturn the deficit.

For further details, visit the full articles by Al Jazeera and Reuters.