Positives & negatives from Arsenal's 3-0 win over Real Madrid

Positive #3: Mikel Arteta's plan

Say what you want about Arteta, and I could and have said plenty, but the grand champion of the process speak had a night for the ages against a managerial icon. Carlo Ancelotti has won this tournament five times during spells with two different European heavyweights, but he appeared stunned into inaction by the fluid team shape Arteta unleashed.

Nowehere was the difference in planning more evident than the middle of the park. The decisive battle ground belonged to Arsenal because of the rotations between Rice, Partey and Lewis-Skelly.

The impact of their movements was vividly described by James Benge of CBS Sports during the first half:

"Arsenal's eights really clearing out towards the flanks in possession, dragging Bellingham and Rodrygo further out. They should have an overload in the centre with Lewis-Skelly, Partey and Merino against Modric and Camavinga."

James Benge

Arsenal won the numbers game in midfield, but the plan also gave more freedom to Saka and Martinelli. They had extra one-on-one duels to win and greater license to cut infield and take overmatched full-backs with them.

Merino's role also showed some nuance. Rather than acting strictly as a Marouane Fellaini-esque target man by proxy, Merino became a roving decoy, regularly dropping off the front or underlapping with Saka to create one-touch combinations in and around the box.

Those combos tapped more into Merino's technique as a natural midfield player. They also compensated for the lack of brawn and speed a true No. 9 would provide.

There's more than one route to goal, and while Rice went direct in two big moments, Merino helped Arsenal keep it intricate and still succeed in others. That success was in sharp contrast to the efforts of Madrid's own frontman.

Negative #2: Kylian Mbappe exposed potential Arsenal frailty

Reluctant as I am to finish on a sour note, it would be remiss not to point a lingering vulnerability ahead of the second leg. It involved how dangerous Real looked on the break during the opening 45 minutes, thanks mostly to the efforts of Kylian Mbappe.

His direct pace, precision timing and on-point first touch caused Arsenal's back line a host of problems. Fortunately, the end product uncharacteristically deserted Mbappe, but only his own profligacy spared the blushes of Arsenal defenders guilty of reckless passing and faulty positioning.

A turbo-charged Mbappe going all out to make amends in Madrid is something an Arsenal defence still set to be without the inspirational Gabriel Magalhaes should worry about. If Vinicius Jr. opts to show up for the return tie and give Mbappe a bit of support, Real will pose enough of a threat to make things nervy.

There are a lot of ifs to ponder, but for now Arsenal should simply bask in an exceptional night's work and the knowledge that finally lifting this elusive and illustrious prize is no longer a mere fantasy.

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