The Night Arsenal Conquered the Bernabeu
In what Mikel Arteta described as “one of the best nights of my career,” Arsenal delivered a masterclass to eliminate defending champions Real Madrid from the Champions League. The 2-1 victory at the iconic Bernabeu sealed a stunning 5-1 aggregate win, booking their place in the semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain.
What made this triumph even more remarkable was Arteta’s revelation about seeking inspiration from his mentor, Pep Guardiola, on the morning of the second leg. “I called him this morning,” Arteta confessed. “If I am here, it is thanks to him to a great extent. He has been a big inspiration to me.” The Arsenal manager spent four formative years as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, and that education was evident in Arsenal’s tactical discipline against the 14-time European champions.
Tactical Masterclass and Player Brilliance
Real Madrid had talked confidently about a potential “remontada” (comeback) after trailing 3-0 from the first leg, but Arsenal‘s young stars had other ideas. Bukayo Saka’s 18th-minute opener killed any lingering Madrid hopes, while Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time goal was the icing on the cake.
Arteta couldn’t hide his pride: “Probably not [felt prouder]. Not only because we’re in the semi-final for the third time in our history, but also for the manner and the way we did it.” He particularly praised his team’s maturity in handling the intimidating Bernabeu atmosphere: “Today I realised after three minutes that in this stadium, anything is possible… but the players showed their own maturity.”
Champions League Semi-Final Schedule
The road to Munich’s final on May 31 now looks like this:
First Legs:
- Arsenal vs PSG – April 29
- Barcelona vs Inter Milan – April 30
Second Legs:
- Inter Milan vs Barcelona – May 6
- PSG vs Arsenal – May 7
Football analysts break down Arsenal’s tactical triumph over Real Madrid
Ancelotti’s Uncertain Future
While Arsenal celebrated, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti faced questions about his future after the comprehensive defeat. “It could be tomorrow, in one year, or in 10 years,” the Italian said philosophically. With Madrid also trailing in La Liga, speculation about his position grows louder.
Mostbet Take: Why This Matters
This victory represents more than just progression to the next round. As Mostbet football expert James Wilson notes: “Arteta has built something special at Arsenal. Beating Madrid over two legs shows they can compete with Europe’s elite. The Guardiola influence is clear, but Arteta is putting his own stamp on this team.”
For Arsenal fans, this feels like the dawn of a new era. As Arteta told TNT Sports: “We are hungry. We are a young team that are determined.” With the semi-finals ahead, the Gunners’ European dream is very much alive.
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