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Declan Rice Shines as Arsenal Dismantle Real Madrid to Reach Champions League Semi-Finals

Arsenal delivered a memorable performance at the Santiago Bernabeu, defeating Real Madrid 2-1 to secure an emphatic 5-1 aggregate victory and earn a place in the Champions League semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain.

Mikel Arteta’s men arrived in Madrid carrying a comfortable 3-0 advantage from the first leg, and despite moments of tension, they showcased resilience and tactical maturity. Bukayo Saka endured a rollercoaster evening; after missing a Panenka-style penalty attempt saved by Thibaut Courtois, he quickly redeemed himself by scoring a sublime goal, latching onto Martin Ødegaard’s precise through ball and lifting his shot elegantly over the Real goalkeeper.

Declan Rice was immense in midfield, dominating the engine room and recovering possession nine times, the most by any player on the pitch. The tension briefly heightened when Rice conceded a penalty, but VAR intervention rightly overturned the decision, keeping Arsenal’s two-goal cushion intact.

Although a rare defensive lapse by William Saliba gifted Vinicius Jr. a chance to equalize on the night, Arsenal kept their composure. They restricted Real Madrid — a team that has averaged over 2.1 goals per game this season — to just one shot on target. Gabriel Martinelli then capped a sensational night, breaking away to slot home the winner in stoppage time.

This historic triumph marks Arsenal’s return to the semi-finals for the first time since 2009, a testament to their revival under Arteta and a performance brimming with character, quality, and belief.

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