Arsenal travelled to the Santiago Bernabéu knowing history was within reach.
16 years after their last semi-final, a composed and courageous performance set the stage for something bigger. Under Mikel Arteta, the team didn’t just protect a lead, they imposed their identity in the home of the champions.
Arsenal stood firm beneath the floodlights of the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, delivering a mature performance to beat Real Madrid and reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2009.
A 2-1 win on the night, 5-1 on aggregate, saw Mikel Arteta’s side complete a double over the reigning champions in their own back yard and book a final-four clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
The scale of this feat cannot be overstated. In the modern era, very few teams arrive in Madrid and as winners. Arsenal have now done it twice.
The nerves were tested early, and Bukayo Saka was at the heart of it all. After dazzling David Alaba with an early cut inside, his drive drew a fine save from Thibaut Courtois. Minutes later, when Raul Asencio dragged down Mikel Merino from a Declan Rice corner, François Letexier, after VAR intervention, pointed to the spot.
Martin Ødegaard collected the ball but handed it to Saka, who opted for a Panenka. The execution was poor; Courtois was able to palm it away. The hosts erupted and the Bernabéu sensed blood.
10 minutes later, Rice and Kylian Mbappé collided in the box, and this time the French referee did blow. The penalty seemed inevitable until the VAR review reversed the decision, much to Carlo Ancelotti’s visible frustration.
Half-time arrived with the game, like the first leg, still 0-0, though the aggregate remained 3-0 to Arsenal. But there would be no crumbling. On 64 minutes, Saka, unbothered by the earlier miss, made amends in superb fashion. A delicate chip over Courtois after a slide-rule pass from Merino silenced Madrid once again.
Vinícius Júnior struck back almost immediately, punishing William Saliba’s rare lapse of concentration to inject belief into the home crowd. But the chaos Arteta warned about was contained. Madrid threw on fresh legs, but it was Arsenal who had the final word.
With Mbappé hobbling off late with an ankle injury, the Bernabéu began to empty. Then, in stoppage time, Gabriel Martinelli pounced to seal a famous 2-1 win on the night, and 5-1 across both legs.
History was made.
“It’s the third time [Arsenal have made the semi-finals] in our history, so I have to be very proud to be there again,” said Arteta, beaming in the aftermath. “The team has shown incredible ambition, courage and willingness to compete against any opposition. It’s not only the fact that we are there, it’s the manner in which we’ve done it.”
He continued, “Today I realised how everything is possible in this stadium because they generate such chaos. But emotionally, especially after conceding, not scoring the goal with Bukayo, the way we handled that situation… these young players haven’t been at this stage before. So it was remarkable.”
This was not an Arsenal side that clung to a first-leg lead. As Arteta confirmed: “The only thing that we discussed over the last three days was that we’re coming here to win. It’s not only about going through, it’s the manner that we have to do it in.”
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