Rice Cooked Madrid, Merino Served Dessert – 3-0 Feast at the Emirates

Arsenal has done what many considered impossible and shocked Real Madrid at the Emirates. Goals from Declan Rice (a direct free kick) and Merino combined to make it 3-0. Many doubted Arsenal could pull it off, but they proved everyone wrong. Though Real Madrid hasn't been playing well this season, they are still Real Madrid. Arsenal has won the first leg of the UCL quarterfinals. The question now is: can they keep this momentum going?

Well, maybe they can. A 3-0 aggregate lead seems almost impossible for any team to come back from, but if there’s any team capable of pulling off the impossible, it’s Real Madrid. Also, Madrid plays the second leg at home—and the Santiago Bernabéu is said to be intimidating. Though I don’t think the Bernabéu has the same effect on opponents anymore, considering Madrid conceded four goals at home against Sociedad and also lost to Valencia.

Despite that, the Bernabéu hasn’t entirely lost its power to intimidate. Moreover, Mikel Arteta might actually decide to play haram ball with a lineup of 9-1-1 if possible. Though that might seem unlikely since the Gunners don’t have enough defenders to pull that off. Still, Arsenal played very well—creating chances in both the first and second halves. However, there was no striker at the receiving end of those chances. If there had been, the game might have ended 8-0.

Madrid are also struggling with the lack of a proper number 9. Kylian Mbappé, a natural left winger, is being played as a striker. Mbappé is a good player, no doubt, but an LW is an LW and an ST is an ST. Vinícius Júnior, who’s also a natural LW, is brilliant—when he shows up. When he doesn’t, he’s almost non-existent in the match. Rodrygo is another LW being played on the right. So technically, Madrid’s forward line is made up of three LWs.

This setup might work for some teams. Maybe PSG could have just won Ligue 1 with Ousmane Dembélé (another LW) as an ST. However, their recent UCL outing against Liverpool proved that an LW is an LW and an ST is an ST. PSG had plenty of chances against Liverpool but none of their attackers could finish. They had to settle for penalties to make it through to the UCL quarterfinals.

For me—though I’m no football expert—I think that for Real Madrid to mount a comeback, Jude Bellingham should play as the ST in the second leg. Yes, Bellingham is a midfielder, but he played as a striker last season and exceeded expectations. If Bellingham starts as ST, either Vini or Mbappé would have to be benched and the starter would take the LW. If Mbappé starts, does he have a good connection with Jude? Mbappé is great, no one doubts the potential of the young man who shocked the world at just 17.

However, I could make a case for starting Vini over Mbappé. Vini can be decisive—if he decides to show up. If he doesn’t, he’s invisible and Madrid would basically be playing with 10 men, like today. I could also argue that Rodrygo should be benched, with Vini or Mbappé playing on the wings—left and right, or right and left. Though I don’t know how that would work exactly.

Arguing in favor of starting Endrick or Arda over one of Madrid’s attackers might not be a great idea either. It’s more feasible for both to come off the bench and impact the game.

Also, my prediction about Madrid’s defense was spot on. Though the defense did its best to prevent direct goals, players like Alaba and even Camavinga (a DM) made some rash decisions—committing unnecessary fouls that led to two free-kick goals. In the end, Camavinga was sent off—well-deserved, if you ask me. Though to be fair to both Alaba and Camavinga, no one expected Declan Rice, a DM, to score a direct free kick.

Despite the free-kick goals, Arsenal were still the better side. In fact, the game could have ended 8-0 or more if not for Courtois—a fact Bellingham himself pointed out. This is one of the reasons I like Jude. He didn’t mince words and spoke the truth about the team’s performance. While others were talking about the Bernabéu’s "power" to turn things around, Jude admitted they played badly.

However, if Jude is moved to ST, I still don’t know who would hold the midfield together. Sometimes I feel like he’s the only serious one out there. In fact, I honestly have no idea how Madrid can turn the tide at the Bernabéu—and I don’t think my suggestions would necessarily work either.

Like I said, I’m no football expert, and I’m definitely not a coach. So for the sake of Madrid fans, let’s hope Ancelotti has a plan. If not, it’s…

#ByeByeMadrid