Arsenal’s commanding 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final has left the football world buzzing. Here’s a look at what was said following the match:
Arsenal’s midfielder Mikel Merino was quick to praise his team’s performance, particularly in the second half, which saw them score all three goals. “We were talking in the dressing room about keeping the pace and tempo, obviously with the help of the crowd on our side. The second half was amazing; we played with full gas from the side. When this side plays like that, the crowd goes with us,” Merino said.
A standout performer in the match was Declan Rice, who scored twice from free-kicks. Merino reflected on Rice’s goal-scoring ability, commenting, “We had a few free-kicks in the past week that we didn’t score. He has one of the best shooting abilities that I’ve seen in my career. I’m not surprised, maybe you are. Hopefully more will come in the future.”
Rice himself reflected on the free-kick goals, saying, “It’s been in the locker! But I’ve hit the wall too many times or it’s gone over the bar. Originally, we were going to cross, but I saw the wall and the goalkeeper’s position, so I thought for the first one, just go for it.” He also shared his excitement after the match, adding, “I just had the confidence to hit it. It’s not hit me yet, because there’s the second leg to go and I’m excited, happy, over the moon. In a few years’ time, I think this will hit that what I did tonight was really special.”
On the other side, Real Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez admitted that his team was outplayed by Arsenal. “We were not good; I think Arsenal had a great game, they made chances, they knew how to press us, and we couldn’t play our game,” Vazquez said. Despite the tough defeat, he remained hopeful for the return leg, adding, “We couldn’t take a step forward in the second half, we lacked a bit of continuity in our game. In the end, we were not able to play a good match.”
Vazquez acknowledged the challenge that lay ahead for his team. “It’s true we’re not used to suffering two defeats in a row. All we can do is work, believe in ourselves more than ever, this team deserves confidence from everyone, and we’ll give everything to be able to turn the tie around,” he stated, expressing confidence that Madrid could still fight back in the second leg.
Arsenal’s remarkable performance has given them a strong advantage heading into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu. Real Madrid will need to regroup and make significant adjustments if they are to mount a comeback in front of their home fans. The tie is far from over, but Arsenal’s dominant display has put them in a prime position to advance to the semi-finals.
