Rice 'immense'

But, even then, Arsenal was unflustered, and quickly snuffed out any Madrid momentum.

Fullbacks Myles Lewis-Skelly and Jurrien Timber locked down the threat of Vinicius and Rodrygo out wide.

And Rice won the midfield battle against his England teammate Jude Bellingham, with a virtuoso performance that saw him crowned man of the match in both legs.

"Tonight he was immense," said Arteta. "In the moment that the game was 50-50, he got on the ball and turned the game."

In the past two seasons, Arsenal has fallen just short to an all-conquering Manchester City in the Premier League title race.