Over The Moon: Two goal Arsenal hero Declan Rice reacts to humbling Real Madrid 

Gunners magical night prompted by two magnificent free kicks by modest Arsenal hero Declan Rice 

Arsenal's Declan Rice stunned Real Madrid with a pair of magnificent free kicks in only 12 second-half minutes, which were the first direct free kick goals of his entire career.

Mikel Arteta's side ran out deserved winners, and took the lead in the 58th minute, when England midfielder Rice whipped the first of his two superb deal balls around the Real Madrid wall into the corner of the net past the despairing dive of keeper Thibaut Courtois.

Rice notched his second of an unforgettable evening with another brilliantly executed free-kick, curling his long-range strike into the top right-hand corner - leaving the legendary Carlo Ancelotti's mighty Madrid absolutely stunned.

Speaking after the match, modest Rice said: 

Reflecting afterwards Rice said: "He [Jover] is telling me to cross. It didn't make sense. I'm happy I took it. Bukayo said: 'If you feel it, go for it.' I looked at the wall and the keeper and thought, 'I can bend this around the outside.'

"It's been in the locker, but I've hit the wall too many times or it's gone over the bar. Originally, we were going to cross it and I've just seen the wall and the goalkeeper's position. So, I thought just got for it."

Modest Rice added: "I'm over the moon. In a few years’ time this will really hit me what I've done tonight."

There was still time for Mikel Merino to curl a shot into the bottom corner to make it 3-0 and put the Gunners in dreamland. 

Real Madrid have now lost five games in the tournament this term, equaling a club record - while Madrid have never overturned a three-goal first leg deficit in the knockout stages of this competition.

Arsenal's victory was the 12th time an English side have won by three or more goals in the first leg of a Champions League knockout stage tie, and every time the English side has gone through to the next round.

The victory also means there will be a fifth English team in the Champions League next season. 

Mikel Arteta had asked the Arsenal fans to arrive early to create an impressive atmosphere inside the stadium, and the team responded.

Things only got worse for Madrid when Eduardo Camavinga was sent off in stoppage time for picking up a second yellow card.

Arsenal have not reached the semi-finals stage of the Champions League since the 2008-09 season, but they have given themselves a huge chance of progressing to the last four with this result.