Arsenal dumped holders Real Madrid out of the Champions League as a stunning 2-1 win at the Bernabeu sealed a 5-1 aggregate victory to set up a semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Led by the talismanic Bukayo Saka – who dinked a superb finish over Thibaut Courtois in the second half having earlier had a Panenka penalty saved by the Real Madrid goalkeeper – Arsenal quashed all the talk of a Real Madrid comeback following their three-goal first-leg lead.
The hosts were given a lifeline as William Saliba was caught on the ball by Vinicius Jr shortly after Saka’s goal, allowing the Real Madrid forward to equalise, but Arsenal maintained their composure before Gabriel Martinelli added a breakaway winner in stoppage time.
The victory ranks as one of the greatest in the club’s history in Europe and puts them into the last four of the competition for only the third time.
In truth, such an outcome never looked in any real jeopardy thanks to a composed performance which left Real Madrid, 15-time winners of the competition and masters of historic comebacks, deeply frustrated as they struggled to carve out chances against Arsenal’s organised defence.
Arsenal did have to come through moments of adversity, with Saka’s early penalty miss giving the hosts a psychological boost. Real Madrid then had a penalty of their own overturned following a five-minute VAR check later in the second half, after Declan Rice was wrongly adjudged to have fouled Kylian Mbappe.
But Arsenal were the more threatening of the two teams overall, with Saka and Martinelli outshining Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. Martinelli’s goal, scored following a superb counter-attack, gave them a victory on the night, as well as in the tie, ensuring they can continue to dream of lifting the trophy.
WATCH: Bothroyd’s reactions on Soccer Special
Jay Bothroyd reacts to Bukayo Saka’s incredible Panenka penalty miss
Bothroyd gives his view on Real Madrid’s penalty overturned by VAR
Jay Bothroyd breaks down Bukayo Saka’s calm finish for Arsenal’s first goal
