Right, we simply have to talk about what happened last night.
I have heard Arsenal fans describe it as the ‘best night of their lives’, or even the ‘greatest game they have ever seen’. Yep, it was that mental.
Rival fans gave the Gunners no chance against Real Madrid, as did much of the media. Heck, I thought they could maybe get a draw or scrape a win, but I never anticipated what was to come.
Arsenal didn’t just beat Los Blancos; they taught them a lesson. Mikel Arteta’s side were better in all departments. They battered them and easily could have scored six.
In the end, the three they got could just be enough to send them into the semi-finals for the first time in 16 years.
Declan Rice started the rout off with one of the best free-kicks I have ever witnessed. From comfortably 25 yards out, maybe even 30, he whipped the ball around the wall – not over it – and it somehow bent back in to hit the back of the net.
12 minutes later, he scored a better one. I’m not joking; it was mental. Rice stepped over the free-kick and proceeded to put it about as top bins as is physically possible, It was upper echelon. Top corner. or whatever you want to call it. Sensational.
I haven’t been that well recently and had lost my voice, but even that second free-kick managed to get a noise out of me while I lay on the sofa trying to recover. Don’t worry, I am feeling better now and I think that second-half display had something to do with it.
Mikel Merino then added a third 15 minutes from time with a lovely low bending finish, and the historic night was complete. The Emirates was in disbelief while limbs took over all corners of the ground.
So yeah, it’s going to be a hard act to follow for Aston Villa and PSG – almost impossible. Well, unless they play out an eight-goal thriller or something.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan waltzed away from Bayern Munich with a one-goal advantage after a superb 2-1 victory at the Allianz Arena.
I told you, the Champions League always delivers.
