Arsenal dominate Real Madrid, but danger still lurks in return leg

Arsenal will take a huge advantage into the second leg against Real Madrid, but the tie is far from over.

As far as dominating performances go, Arsenal's 3-0 win over Real Madrid might be one of the best under the tenure of Mikel Arteta.

Such was the occasion, his team rose to it and made the defending European champs look second-rate, which is something that is next to impossible to do.

Declan Rice was the chief destroyer, with his two outrageous free kicks scored just 12 minutes apart in the second half to turn the tie on its head as the Emirates crowd was sent into raptures.

Then Mikel Merino gave the Gunners a little insurance with his well-taken effort from just inside the box, giving the Gunners a well-deserved lead.

That now gives Arsenal a nice advantage heading into the second leg and for some, the Gunners are in the box seat to progress to the semi-finals.

Arsenal still in danger in second leg

Yes, the performance at the Emirates was sublime, but with Madrid at home in the return leg, the Gunners must be wary that the Spanish champs can put a team to the sword just as easily as Arsenal did.

But will the rest of the competition look at Arsenal differently now?

"No, because we have our time, and we are just, again, in the middle of it, at half-time, however you want to call it," Arteta said via arsenal.com. "There is still so much to do here."

So yes, Arsenal is in the driving seat, but Madrid have the weaponry to make life hell for the Gunners on their home deck.

Which is why we think Merino's goal was perhaps the biggest of the night. We know how frail a two-goal lead is. All Madrid had to do was score once in the second leg and it is game on with just one goal separating the sides.

But now, there are three, and that is a big advantage for Arsenal, particularly mentally. It knows there's a cushion, and if the Gunners score first next week, that could nearly put the tie to bed.

Likely to set up a little differently, the Gunners know what is at stake in the return leg. All the hard work done to create a three-goal lead can be wasted if Real get off ot a host start and score early.

So yes, Arsenal has an advantageous position, but even at 3-0, it doesn't feel like enough.

READ ALL THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS HERE!!!