Arsenal thrash Real Madrid 3:0 to keep champions league hope alive

Arsenal players celebrate after defeating Real Madrid

Arsenal beat defending champions Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their quarterfinal Champions League tie.

The match at Emirates Stadium in London saw Declan Rice score two free kicks to put the home side 2-0 up.

Arsenal are second in the Premier League, the same position they finished for the past two seasons in the English top flight.

Defending Spanish champions Real are second in LaLiga behind fierce rivals Barcelona.

Both Arsenal and Madrid came into Tuesday night’s clash with concerns over possible suspensions for the return leg in Spain next week.

Gabriel Martinelli, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber were all walking a tightrope with two yellow cards for the Gunners while Madrid had six players close to suspension.

Unfortunately for Carlo Ancelotti, Camavinga was put in the referee’s book for a challenge on Bukayo Saka before receiving a second yellow card in stoppage time.

It means the France international will miss next week’s return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

For Arsenal, Mikel Arteta will face no suspensions for the next leg after his three players on two yellow cards stayed disciplined throughout.

Even better news is that, as per the UEFA Champions League website, the yellow cards do not carry over past this stage.