Arsenal are now looking to go all the way in this season’s UEFA Champions League after making light work of reigning champions Real Madrid over two legs in the quarter-finals of the competition.
The Gunners engineered a shock 3-0 win over Los Blancos at the Emirates last week to take firm control of the tie. They then put on another impressive display at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, winning the second leg 2-1 to secure a 5-1 aggregate victory.
Saka recovered from an early penalty miss to give Arsenal the lead, but Vinicius quickly equalized after a Saliba error. That goal proved to be inconsequential though as Gabriel Martinelli notched a late winner to send Arsenal through.
Still unbeaten by Real Madrid in the competition and into the semifinals for the third time in their history, Declan Rice, whose brace of free-kicks set Arsenal’s triumph in motion, believes they can go all the way.
“It is such a special night for this club, a historic night for this club. We had an objective in this competition: We want to win this competition,” said Rice, speaking to TNT Sports.
“We had so much belief and confidence that we had enough to come here and win the game. We had it in our mind, and we have done it in real life. What a night for the club.
“It is massive. I sensed it before I turned up at the club that we were on an upward trajectory. In this competition, we have done amazingly well. We fully believe it, and we have full trust in the manager; he is unbelievable.
“Semi-final, it is massive for us and we want to take tonight in.”
Arsenal will take on Paris Saint-Germain, a side they won 2-0 against during the league phase, in the semifinals. Can the Gunners finally end their long wait for UCL glory?
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
