Arsenal Stun Real Madrid to Reach First Champions League Semi-Final in 15 Years

Arsenal have reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2009, completing a commanding 5-1 aggregate triumph over Real Madrid following a 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday night.

Having stormed to a 3-0 first-leg lead at the Emirates, the Gunners arrived in Madrid with a comfortable advantage, but they knew from history that no lead is ever truly safe against the kings of European comebacks. Still, Mikel Arteta’s side produced a mature, composed performance to silence the Spanish giants on their own turf.

Early Tension, Missed Penalty, and Redemption

The second leg began with Arsenal looking to settle nerves early, and they were handed a golden opportunity to do just that when referee François Letexier awarded a penalty just 12 minutes in. Mikel Merino was brought down by Raúl Asencio, and Bukayo Saka stepped up to the spot. However, the young winger saw his effort saved by Thibaut Courtois, sparking hopes of a famous Real Madrid remontada.

Madrid fans found their voice, sensing an opportunity to turn the tide, but Arsenal held firm. Then, midway through the second half, Saka made amends for his earlier miss with a beautifully dinked finish over Courtois, effectively sealing the tie.

Vinícius Júnior briefly restored parity on the night after capitalizing on a defensive lapse, but it was too little, too late. In stoppage time, Gabriel Martinelli raced through to slot home a composed finish, capping off a dominant Arsenal performance across both legs.

Belief and Pride

“There was a lot of talk about Real Madrid coming back, because they’ve done it so many times before,” said Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice post-match. “But we had so much belief and confidence from that first game to come here and win—and now we’ve done it in real life.”

Manager Mikel Arteta couldn’t hide his emotions either, hailing the win as one of the highlights of his footballing life.

“This is one of the best nights in my football career, for sure,” Arteta said. “It’s a really special victory against a team that has been an inspiration for a lot of us in this competition. To win this tie in the manner that we have, we can be very proud.”

Madrid Reflect, Arsenal March On

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, who has led Los Blancos to three Champions League titles, was gracious in defeat.

“We have to hold our heads high because we did very well in this competition in recent years,” the 65-year-old Italian said. “This year we have to endure and suffer. In sport, this can happen because there are no invincible teams. We have to learn from this defeat and fight for the next game.”

Semi-Final Showdowns Set

Arsenal now look ahead to a semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain, who advanced past Aston Villa with a narrow 5-4 aggregate win. The first leg will take place at the Emirates Stadium on April 29, with the return fixture in Paris the following week.

In the other semi-final, Inter Milan will meet Barcelona after holding Bayern Munich to a 2-2 draw at San Siro, progressing 4-3 on aggregate. Inter travel to Catalonia for the first leg on April 30.

The stage is set for a thrilling climax to this year’s Champions League, with four elite clubs vying for the ultimate prize. The final will be held at the Allianz Arena in Munich on May 31.

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