4 reasons behind Arsenal's massive Champions League win | OneFootball

Arsenal's crushing 3-0 victory against Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium has shaken Europe to its core. In a display of tactical solidity, ruthless finishing, and relentless pressure, Mikel Arteta's team made a massive stride toward the Champions League semifinals. It was one night when all the pieces clicked into place for the Gunners, and when even one of the competition's toughest challengers seemed powerless. But what exactly brought on such a dominating performance? Here are the four reasons why Arsenal made their North London statement win.

1. Luck

There is no way around it. Arsenal’s win was not by chance, but the margin is a different story. While the Gunners beat Madrid by three goals, they only outperformed Real by one goal on xG (1.5 - 0.5). The way in which they scored their goals was also fortunate. While taking nothing away from the technical brilliance of Declan Rice and his free-kicks, you cannot expect him to replicate that in future games. Before yesterday, the Englishman hadn’t scored a direct free-kick in any of his 381 previous matches. As well, Thibaut Courtois was unusually caught out. Since the Belgian joined Madrid in 2018, he has faced 123 shots from outside the box in Champions League knockout matches. Before today, he had only conceded three times. Declan Rice just put two past him.

2. Defensive solidity

Jakub Kiwior and William Saliba celebrating a dominant defesive performance | Marc Atkins/GettyImages

While Arsenal might have been slightly lucky going forward, there is no doubt about what they did to Madrid on the other side of the pitch. Limiting Real’s potent front four to only three shots on goal the entire game is something to be very proud of. Mikel Arteta deserves a lot of credit for what he has done with Arsenal. Despite losing a world class defender in Gabriel due to injury, the London side have looked just as rigid in defense. Jakub Kiwior played in place of the Brazilian and played admirably.  While Arsenal certainly have their issues going forward, there is no doubt that this squad is one of, if not Europe's best defensive teams. This year in the Champions League league phase, Arsenal conceded just 5.8 xG in all of their games, the lowest of any team.

3. Dominance in wide-areas

Merino scored Arsenal's third goal | ADRIAN DENNIS/GettyImages

Arsenal are a perfect example of the importance of wide areas in your attack. The return of Bukayo Saka paired with the run of form of Gabriel Martinelli has made Arsenal’s attack very dangerous. Madrid’s David Alaba and Federico Valverde looked overrun and could not match the intensity which Arsenal provided. This was on full display for Arsenal’s third goal. Leandro Trossard came in from out wide and played a ball to Myles Lewis-Skelly, who found Mikel Merino with a firm pass, who then finished home the dagger for Arsenal. What Arsenal also do so well is maintaining a high line, allowing their attackers to sustain positions high up on the field, suffocating any team. Arsenal recorded a wild 36 touches in the opponent's box, compared to just 13 for Real.

4. Set-piece dominance

Arsenal FC v Real Madrid C.F. - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg | Marc Atkins/GettyImages

While Arsenal are normally known for their corners, it was free-kicks today that stole the show. Many people have criticized their reliance on set plays, but for a team that has struggled to score from open play, they have provided a useful tool, especially on European nights. Arsenal’s defensive prowess paired with their elite set piece skill makes them a tough out in any cup competition. This season, Arsenal have scored 21 goals from set-pieces, the most of any team in the Premier League. In a tournament such as the Champions League, many teams will opt to play a more defensive and conservative approach. This style of play suits Arsenal to a tee.

Arsenal host Brentford this Saturday at 12:30 P.M EST before traveling to face Madrid in the second leg next Wednesday. Kickoff inside the Bernabéu is at 3:00 P.M.