Brentford manager Thomas Frank has given his players a simple plan to stop Arsenal's free-kick maestro Declan Rice -- don't give away fouls near the penalty area.
Three goals in 17 minutes. The Emirates roared. The dragon was down.
Rice scored with two sublime free-kicks in the second half of the quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
The English top flight needed just one win from its clubs in any of the three European competitions to secure one of two extra berths - on top of the four granted to the top four in the table - awarded to the highest-ranked countries in the UEFA coefficient ranking.
Arsenal stormed to a stunning 3-0 win over Champions League holders Real Madrid as Declan Rice's free-kick masterclass left the Gunners within touching distance of a place in the semifinals.
Real Madrid have set the bar sky high with six Champions League titles in a decade and their demanding fans have been voicing concerns as last year's European and Spanish champions struggle for consistency this season.
The Gunners have never been crowned European champions and face the 15-time winners in a quarter-final at the Emirates on Tuesday with the return leg in Madrid next week.
Second-placed Arsenal have 62 points from 31 games, 11 behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game at hand when they go to Fulham on Sunday. Everton climb to 14th place with 35 points from their 31 matches, 15 points clear of the relegation zone.
Arsenal have suffered a major setback ahead of their Champions League clash against Real Madrid after Gabriel was ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Merino scored in the 20th minute when he stooped to flick his looping header over Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal after a Martin Odegaard corner.
The Gunners sit 15 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, now with just one game in hand, with their focus beginning to turn to holding off the chasing pack for a place in next season's Champions League.
Liverpool survived a scare from Southampton as Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez inspired the fightback in a 3-1 win that lifted the Premier League leaders 16 points clear at the top on Saturday.
Erling Haaland returned from injury to clinch Manchester City's 1-0 win at Tottenham as the troubled champions moved into fourth place in the Premier League on Wednesday.
Liverpool took a giant stride towards the Premier League title on Sunday as a 2-0 win over Manchester City opened up an 11-point lead at the top of the table over Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta admitted he is "obsessed" with winning the Premier League title as he urged Arsenal to keep the pressure on leaders Liverpool.
Arne Slot insists Liverpool can handle the mounting pressure of the Premier League title race after the leaders were hampered by nerves in their tense win against Wolves.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk insists the Premier League leaders can cope with the mounting pressure of the title race.
The Germany forward, 25, was injured during the club's warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
Newcastle, who have beaten Arsenal three times this season, will face Liverpool or Tottenham in the final at Wembley on March 16.
