Comment: Saka takes on the Henry baton as Arsenal stun Real Madrid, again

Saka's return from injury coincided perfectly with the arrival of Real at the Emirates as the Gunners attempted to recreate the memories of almost 20 years ago.

SAKA CAN: Arsenal's Bukayo Saka reacts during the UEFA Champions League quarter final. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.

Not since Thierry Henry scored a sensational winner in Madrid on their way to the Champions League Final of 2006 have Arsenal had a night like this; one on which they ended it truly believing they could lift a trophy that has always felt out of their grasp.

Henry’s glorious strike in the Bernabeu won a tight first leg 1-0 in a season in which Arsenal drew the second leg 0-0 and went on to reach the final in Paris, narrowly losing to Barcelona when goalkeeper Jens Lehman was controversially sent off.

Many of that team, of course, were members of the Invincibles of 2003-4, so it would hardly be fair to compare them.

But on a giddy night at the Emirates, the Gunners had two players who could end up reaching the same level as many of those superstars of the past.

It was the combination of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, one who cost a fortune and one cost nothing, who drove Arsenal to a quite remarkable 3-0 victory – and it could well have been more.

There is still a second leg to cope with in Madrid, of course, so Saka will need to once again channel his hero Henry to ensure Arsenal make it through; but what an opportunity – and what a night.

It was poignant that Henry’s legendary goal in the Bernabeu flashed up on the big screen as Arsenal fans upped the ante ahead of kick-off. It was, after all, one of the defining goals of the Arsene Wenger era – and a thing of sheer beauty.

A dashing run down the full length of the Real pitch, past a string of legendary rivals that included Ronaldo, Guti and Sergio Ramos, and then a trademark finish that sent the ball flashing past Iker Casillas into the bottom right corner. Sheer class.

Henry's legacy has been hard to match but Saka has taken on the baton and his return from injury coincided perfectly with the arrival of Real at the Emirates as the Gunners attempted to recreate the memories of almost 20 years ago.

There will be plenty of Arsenal fans who cannot contemplate how much time has passed since then – or how few trophies have been collected in the meantime. There have been just four – all of them FA Cups – and the long wait to be European champions goes on at a time when London rivals Chelsea have lifted the big-eared trophy twice.

But Saka is giving them hope – and now midfield leader Rice, whose two stunning free-kicks won the game before Mikel Merino added a third, has joined the party too.

Rice cost 123m Euros when he signed from West Ham in July 2023, and many questioned whether he was worth it. Nobody is entering that debate any more.

He was man of the match after a powerful performance and two remarkable free-kick goals on one of the greatest nights that the Emirates has ever seen.

But, wow, he was given a lot of support by homegrown Saka, too.

He was clearly Arsenal’s main attacking threat from the very first minute, including delivering two stunning low crosses across the box that really should have been tucked away (and perhaps would have been if Mikel Arteta’s men included a natural striker).

That, of course, is an ongoing debate, but one that is fading fast considering the contribution of midfielder-turned-striker Merino.

Saka’s return has also revitalised Arsenal’s season at a time when they desperately needed him, and his fellow winger Gabriel Martinelli is also starting to wake up after a long period of frustration. He saw two fine efforts saved by Courtois and was a constant menace.

Saka, however, shone brightest - and when you consider this was a player starting a game for the first time in three months because of injury, it was a remarkable performance.

He played a big part in Arsenal’s opener, too, dribbling across the pitch from touchline to the edge of the area, defiantly holding off defenders, before eventually earning the free-kick he deserved.

It was from that dead ball situation that Rice scored Arsenal’s most memorable free-kick goal, just before the hour mark. That is if you don’t count his second goal – which was even better.

There could have been more. Martinelli and Merino both denied before the latter struck a late third to wrap things up.

By this time, the heady atmosphere in North London gave the Emirates a surreal feel - with euphoria in the air and tears in the eyes.

There is still a job to do, of course, because Real have a knack of getting through these two-legged ties even when they are in big trouble. But with Rice and Saka on this form, the Arsenal dream feels more real than ever.

Could this, finally, be their year?