Arsenal Advances to Champions League Semifinals, Defeats Real Madrid 5-1

Arsenal's record signing Declan Rice has silenced early skeptics with a series of commanding performances, particularly in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. Rice scored twice in the first leg and delivered a Man-of-the-Match display in the return fixture, earning widespread acclaim for his tactical intelligence and composure. Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand and other pundits have praised Rice for 'running the show' over both legs, asserting that he has elevated his status to one of Europe's top midfielders. Notably, Rice's dominance was highlighted by his ability to neutralize Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, with analysts suggesting Rice was the standout midfielder across the tie. Arsenal's victory, capped by contributions from other young players like Myles Lewis-Skelly, now sees them advance to the semi-finals, where expectations are high for continued strong performances from Rice.