www.givemesport.com
Arsenal Fans Are in ‘Awe’ at Underrated Duo Who Completely Dominated Real Madrid
Robin Mumford
21 – 26 minutes
4
Sign in to your GiveMeSport account
Declan Rice
Tuesday night is one that Arsenal fans will never forget. In a jaw-dropping display under the Emirates Stadium lights, two sublime free-kicks from Declan Rice and a thunderous strike from Mikel Merino saw the Gunners dismantle reigning Champions League holders Real Madrid with a stunning 3-0 victory.
It was the kind of triumph no one surely saw coming, not even in the north Londoner’s wildest dreams. And while Bukayo Saka and the goalscorers will understandably dominate the headlines, as Mikel Arteta’s men inch closer to their first Champions League semi-final since 2009 – and just their third ever – two other unsung heroes deserve their share of the spotlight.
Keeping Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo quiet – two of the most electric wingers in world football and serious contenders for the Ballon d’Or – is a mountain most defenders would fear to climb. But Arsenal’s full-backs scaled it with remarkable ease, turning the lights out on two of Carlo Ancelotti’s brightest sparks.
Collage featuring Tottenham, Arsenal and PSG crests with the Champions League trophy.
Related
Ranking the 10 Biggest Clubs to Never Win the Champions League
The Champions League has brought some dark memories for several of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly’s Defensive Masterclass
The full-backs played an important role in thwarting the great Real Madrid
Over the course of 90 minutes, Vinicius Junior was kept unusually quiet – no shots on target, no successful dribbles, no key passes, and he lost all but one of his ground duels. Rodrygo didn’t fare much better. The Brazilian livewire failed to test the keeper, couldn’t get past Timber once, committed two fouls, and lost possession five times.
In stark contrast, Myles Lewis-Skelly delivered a composed and commanding performance. He not only provided the assist for Merino’s goal but also completed 95% of his passes, won four of seven duels, and wasn’t dribbled past a single time. Timber, patrolling the opposite flank, chipped in with an interception, four tackles, and won eight of his 15 duels – while also completing two of his three dribble attempts.
GMS_Timber
Making both of Real Madrid’s wingers look crestfallen and utterly shellshocked takes some doing, and it wasn’t long before social media was abuzz with Gunners’ supporters highlighting the work the full-back duo put in to ensure Arsenal cruised to a historic victory. One X user said: “Myles Lewis Skelly is one of the best players in football.” Another remarked:
“Myles Lewis-Skelly is slowly becoming that player that you find frustrating to press, so you just let him do whatever he wants because he’ll make you look like a fool anyways.”
skelly (1)
In his post-match analysis, Wayne Rooney hailed the fact Lewis-skelly, at just 18 years old, “played with full confidence and full belief”, while highlighting his fearlessness as a key to his future successes.
“Timber being the best right back in the world isn’t talked enough about,” another Arsenal fan said, deservedly getting caught up in the euphoria. A second piece of praise towards the Dutchman read: “Timber is such a joy to watch. What a baller man,” while a third wrote: “Vini and Rodrygo have been so disappointing. Timber and Lewis-Skelly are incredible. Saka has no help.”
The job isn’t over, as the Gunners must finish their assignment with a trip to the Bernabeu next week in the return leg. But given they will take a 3-0 lead into that contest, Arteta’s side can dream of elusive Champions League success once and for all, and Timber and Lewis-Skelly’s displays prove it will be a team effort if their true potential is realised.
All statistics courtesy of Sofascore (correct as of 08/04/2025)
