What they said after Arsenal beat Real Madrid

Key quotes after Arsenal defeated holders Real Madrid 3-0 in their Uefa Champions League quarterfinal first leg clash on Tuesday:

"We were talking in the dressing room about keeping the pace and tempo, obviously with the help of the crowd on our side. The second half was amazing, we played with full gas from the side. When this side plays like that the crowd go with us"

– Arsenal goalscorer Mikel Merino told Amazon Prime

"We had a few free-kicks in the past week that we didn't score. He has one of the best shooting abilities that I've seen in my career. I'm not surprised, maybe you are. Hopefully more will come in the future."

– Merino on Declan Rice's two superb free-kicks

"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, but I saw the wall and the goalkeeper's position, so I thought for the first one, just go for it."

– Rice said of his two strikes which broke the deadlock for Arsenal

"I just had the confidence to hit it. It's not hit me yet, because there's the second leg to go and I'm excited, happy, over the moon. In a few years' time, I think this will hit that what I did tonight was really special."

– Rice reflecting on the second of his two free-kick goals

"We were not good, I think Arsenal had a great game, they made chances, they knew how to press us and we couldn't play our game."

– Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez told Movistar

"We couldn't take a step forward in the second half, we lacked a bit of continuity in our game. In the end we were not able to play a good match."

– Vazquez added of the match, which was goalless at halftime

"It's true we're not used to suffering two defeats in a row. All we can do is work, believe in ourselves more than ever, this team deserves confidence from everyone, and we'll give everything to be able to turn the tie around."

– Vazquez said after Madrid followed up their 2-1 LaLiga loss against Valencia with a defeat in Europe