Arsenal show up Real Madrid and thrash a team that was never in the game and that only relied on its individuality. Two goals from set pieces and another from Mikel Merino leave Ancelotti’s team on the verge of elimination. Arteta’s team brought out the harsh reality of the Whites’ season, which they have survived thanks to the individual talents that did not show up today. It will take more than a magical night at the Santiago Bernabéu to turn things around.
The Emirates Stadium became the setting for a new Champions League quarter-final for Real Madrid, a decisive phase that is now a habit for the Whites season after season, it seems easy. They arrived with the security that the badge imposes, but in one of the years that has generated the most doubts, an irregular team that has not been able to shine in important matches throughout the year.
The rival, a classic of English football like Arsenal FC who are riding high in second place in the Premier League and who started the match with a streak of more than two years without losing at home, but the rival was a big one, the king of Europe. Of course, with the now distant memory of 2006 when the “gunners” eliminated Real Madrid in the last European clash between the two.
A Real Madrid entrenched
Real Madrid came out with what they had and with the surprise of Alaba on the left wing, with Valverde, as expected, on the right, and with Camaviga and Modric accompanying Bellingham in midfield. The match began as expected, a script that seemed to be fulfilled, with Arsenal carrying the weight of the match and a crouching Madrid, who were struggling to find the rhythm of the game, but threatening on the counter like no one else.
And they had a clear advance with a two-on-one with Vinicius and Mbappé as protagonists, but the Brazilian failed to get one-on-one with Madrid’s number 9. Arsenal threatened from set pieces and Thomas Partey tried Courtois from outside the area. There was danger in the air, but the chances did not materialize.
As the minutes went by, Ancelotti’s men managed to slow down the home side’s start, with long possessions that aimed to temper the game rather than generate danger. But with the ball, Arsenal broke lines with ease and kept on setting the tempo. Mbappé had a clear chance after half an hour, then Bellingham, out of nowhere, invented a move on the left wing from the halfway line and slipped a pass between the lines to leave the Frenchman alone against Raya. He tried to cross with his left foot at a tight angle and it went to the body of the Spanish international. The home side’s danger came from the right. Saka put in two balls that wandered into the box.
Courtois saves Madrid before the break
On the stroke of half-time, with two minutes of the first half remaining, Thibaut Courtois had to save Ancelotti’s side twice. Rice‘s point-blank header was kept out by the keeper’s hand. The ball fell to Martinelli on the left, who shot first time, but slowly enough for the Belgian keeper to get up and save the second shot.
Real Madrid went into the break dominated, having avoided a clear chance in the final minutes, but they had not been under siege either and had had two clear chances to go in ahead at the break.
Arsenal overwhelm in the second half
Just when it seemed that the match was looking up for Real Madrid, with a better start to the second half, Alaba committed an absurd foul on the edge of the box. Declan Rice took it upon himself to hit the ball, outside the wall (perhaps one more man closer would have been better), but he unleashed an impossible shot for Courtois, curling the ball in an incredible way that went in, grazing the post.
Real Madrid were knocked out for several minutes and Arsenal came on top: in the 67th minute they had a triple opportunity where Courtois was once again decisive with a double save from Martinelli and Mikel Merino, with a third save from Alaba under the bar from Merino’s second shot. A minute later it was Rice who beat the Belgian, but Bellingham saved under the bar.
Rice shoots and Merino scores
Free kick goals are rarely seen in football nowadays, less than two, but Rice was full of confidence. Another direct free kick after a foul by Camavinga, this time to the goalkeeper’s post, knowing that the first goal could give him an advantage at that post: he shot a right-footed shot to the goalkeeper’s post, grazing the top corner, a great goal and Madrid were down and out.
Real Madrid were dead and barely 5 minutes later, Mikel Merino, latched onto a ball inside the area after receiving a pass from the left, hit first time at the near post, unbeatable, to put the tie on track.
Real Madrid held out in the first half, but in the second half, Arsenal were a steamroller. The match was a reflection of Ancelotti’s team this season. No commitment and no solutions. It was possible to rely on individuals during the year, but on the big days, something more is needed, something that Real Madrid has not had all year. The Whites will have to appeal to their epic spirit (more than ever) to come back from a tie that now seems impossible.