Thibaut Courtois has taken responsibility for a crucial mistake during Real Madrid's 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final, acknowledging that his decision during Declan Rice's opening free-kick contributed to the heavy defeat.

The reigning European champions now face the prospect of an early exit from the competition after a dominant performance by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium left them with a mountain to climb in the return leg.

Despite Real Madrid holding firm during the first half, it was Declan Rice who finally broke the deadlock with a superbly struck free-kick. Curling the ball around a four-man wall, set up by Courtois himself, the England midfielder beat the Belgian goalkeeper with precision and power.

Rice repeated the feat just over ten minutes later with another blistering free-kick, sending the home fans into raptures as Arsenal seized control of the tie. Mikel Merino added a third goal, placing the Premier League side firmly in the driving seat to reach the semi-finals.

In the aftermath of the match, a visibly frustrated Courtois took responsibility for Arsenal’s opening goal, conceding that he could have altered the wall’s configuration.

“I thought I’d positioned the wall well,” Courtois told Movistar. “Usually, I put in an extra man. I take responsibility for that. I could have added one more, but I didn’t think Rice would get that much curl on it.”

Although he acknowledged the quality of the strike, the Real Madrid goalkeeper believed it could have been avoided.

“The second goal was a brilliant finish, but they were unnecessary fouls — there was no real danger. We probably shouldn’t have committed those.”

Courtois, widely regarded as one of the world’s finest goalkeepers, also reflected on the overall team performance.

“Arsenal are a very strong side, especially at home,” he said. “They press with intensity, play between the lines, and created a number of dangerous moments. We held our own in the first half and had some chances, but we lost our composure in the second half.

“There wasn’t panic, but we weren’t calm enough on the ball, and then they punished us with two outstanding free-kicks.”

Following the match, Declan Rice revealed that his first goal had initially been intended as a cross.

“It’s been in the locker for a while!” Rice said. “But I’ve hit the wall too many times or sent it over. Initially, we were going to cross it, but I saw the wall and the goalkeeper’s position, and thought — for the first one — I’ll just go for it.

“It hasn’t really hit me yet because there’s still the second leg to come. I’m over the moon, but I think in a few years, I’ll look back and realise how special tonight really was.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta appeared astonished after Rice’s second goal flew into the top corner and spoke about the player’s determination post-match.

“Declan has been incredibly determined,” Arteta said. “We reminded him recently that we hadn’t scored a direct free-kick since September 2021. It’s been a long time. So for him to score two of such quality and significance — and considering he had never scored a free-kick in his career before — the odds are incredible.”

Real Madrid now have it all to do in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu if they are to salvage their Champions League hopes.