Arsenal Analysed: 5 ways we made it happen

We produced an unforgettable performance in N5 with a 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Declan Rice scored two incredible free-kicks before Mikel Merino continued his goalscoring run to send us into the second leg in high spirits. But how did we nullify Madrid's threats and impose ourselves on the game?

Adrian Clarke has pored over the stats and footage to unearth the keys to our victory:

PRECISION SHOOTING 

“Make it happen” was the pre-match message, and Arsenal’s players responded in spectacular fashion to Mikel Arteta’s call to arms.  

Registering 11 shots on target, from 12 attempts, our shooting was as sharp and precise as it has ever been.  

But for keeper Thibaut Courtois’ heroics, plus David Alaba and Jude Bellingham both clearing goal bound shots off the line, we could have scored five or six goals against the reigning champions.  

Since records began in 2003/04, our 11 on-target shots were the joint-most produced against Real Madrid in a knockout stage match, equalling the total Liverpool registered in March 2009 in a last 16 contest.  

We did not hit a single wayward shot, with the only attempt not classified as on-target being a Declan Rice strike that was blocked at point-blank range.  

On the biggest night, our focus in front of goal was extraordinarily impressive.  

In terms of Premier League and Champions League action we have never been as accurate with our shooting in any contest since 2003/04 where we have had at least ten attempts.  

Our 92% shot accuracy blows away anything we have produced before.  

MIDFIELD SUPREMACY 

From start to finish we bossed the middle third, and this domination laid the platform for an unforgettable victory.  

Real Madrid relied heavily on Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga to hold things together inside the engine room, but they never got a foothold in the game.  

Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard outnumbered that pair, but even when Bellingham tucked in to support them, the presence of Myles Lewis-Skelly still provided us with a 4v3 advantage.  

That sometimes became a 5v3 when Mikel Merino dropped off the front, and this set up allowed us to monopolise that key area of the pitch.  

Most of Real Madrid’s best moments came from transitions or mistakes, rather than playing through the thirds.  

This average position map gives you an indication of how the pattern of play sometimes looked… 

COURAGE FROM HALE END PAIR 

Myles Lewis-Skelly and Bukayo Saka, two of our proud home-grown players, were outstanding against the 15-time champions of Europe.  

After spending three and a half months out, Saka understandably lacked match sharpness in substitute outings against Fulham and Everton, but on the biggest stage of all he picked up the pace.  

A brilliant first half run and cross, skipping past Bellingham before playing a pass along the face of goal really should have set up a tap-in at the far post.  

Saka’s positive play gave left back Alaba a torrid time all evening, and it was the Austrian who fouled our number 7 for the free kick which led to Rice’s opener. A second mazy dribble also drew a Camavinga foul which set up our record signing to score a second set piece goal.  

Considering how much football Saka has missed, his skill and bravery on the ball was commendable.  

The same applies to teenage sensation Myles Lewis-Skelly, who won his duel with Rodrygo hands-down and with plenty to spare.  

Always wanting to take responsibility, the 18-year-old demanded the ball in central areas all game long, and was fantastic as our ‘spare man’ in midfield, making a series of telling forward passes.  

Myles Lewis-Skelly Pass Chalkboard (Opta Analyst)

Despite receiving many of his touches in congested areas, against some of the world’s top talent, MLS’s passing accuracy was a staggering 94.7%.  

He played 21 of his passes into the final third too (second only to Martin Odegaard) and was a major threat in that domain.  

Lewis-Skelly nutmegged Bellingham inside the box to set up Gabriel Martinelli for a great second half chance, and it was his crisp, perfectly weighted pass into Merino that assisted our third goal of the game.  

The movement from Merino to pull off his marker Antonio Rudiger (see below) made up the youngster’s mind to feed a pass into his left foot, at a pace that allowed him to shoot first time.  

COMPOSURE AND BELIEF

That all-important third goal came off the back of a 16-pass move that involved nine Arsenal players.  

Popping the ball around some of European football’s finest individual players with ease, there was an aura of calm confidence exuding from everyone involved.  

The fact that six Gunners’ players were also inside the box when Merino struck his sweet left-footed strike into the bottom corner, highlights how we refused to sit on what would have been an excellent two-goal advantage.  

Six of our starters boasted passing accuracy of over 90%, which on an evening of fast, furious football was impressive.  

I also admired the way we responded to some erratic defensive mistakes early on in the game, growing into the match before eventually snuffing out Real Madrid with a degree of comfort.  

William Saliba was almost flawless, losing possession just twice all night, and right across the pitch every player looked like they felt they could win their individual duels.  

This was a team performance where everybody displayed character and quality.  

A DREAM PERFORMANCE FROM DECLAN RICE 

Scoring the best free-kick brace of all-time, Declan Rice etched his name into Arsenal folklore with a stunning individual display.  

He is the first player in UEFA Champions League history to score from two direct free kicks in a knockout tie – a fact made even more remarkable given that he’d never previously scored from one in 339 senior appearances.  

It was also the England international’s first ever career double.  

The first goal came after Rice punished Courtois for a very poor wall set-up.  

You need to have the ‘second from last’ man in the wall in line with the post to fully protect that side, but it was the end player who was level with it in the 58th minute.  

Nevertheless, it still required an exceptional swerving effort at speed, to find the back of the net.  

I would also suggest Real Madrid were too casual in their wall set-up for Rice’s stunning second.  

 Our three-man wall stood uncontested, blocking the keeper’s vision (see above).  

Even so, when those red shirts broke to free up space for Rice to shoot, the sheer pace and quality of Rice’s strike would have beaten every single goalkeeper on the planet.  

Finding the ‘postage stamp’ in the top corner, this was THE most perfect free kick you could ever wish to see.  

Rice was a free spirit throughout the game.  

Unlucky not to score when his header was saved in the first half, he had five attempts overall, including another that was hacked off the line.  

Rice also provided the driving run that saw Real Madrid drop deep inside their own box in the build-up to Merino’s goal.  

On a night when every Arsenal player delivered at least an ‘8 out of 10’ level display, our magnificent midfielder was a perfect 10.