By Olaitan Ibrahim
Arsenal delivered a statement performance at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday night, sealing a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid to complete a commanding 5-1 aggregate win and book their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
The Gunners, who had already stunned the Spanish giants with a 3-0 first-leg masterclass at the Emirates Stadium, showed poise and purpose in Madrid to wrap up a two-legged triumph that will echo across Europe.
Bukayo Saka was lively from the outset, testing Thibaut Courtois with a precise low drive in the 8th minute.
Moments later, Arsenal were awarded a penalty after a VAR review for a foul inside the box. However, Courtois came to Madrid’s rescue, diving low to deny Saka’s tame spot-kick.
Madrid thought they had earned a lifeline when Declan Rice was penalised for a challenge in the box midway through the first half. But after another VAR check, French referee François Letexier overturned his decision, leaving the Bernabéu crowd seething.
After a goalless first half, Arsenal broke the deadlock in the 65th minute. Mikel Merino, controlling the midfield with authority, slipped a clever pass to Saka, who lofted the ball over the onrushing Courtois for a stylish opener.
The home side briefly rekindled hope when Vinicius Junior capitalised on a defensive mishap two minutes later to make it 1-1.
But Arsenal stayed composed, resisting Madrid’s late pressure with goalkeeper David Raya pulling off a vital save from Brahim Diaz in the closing moments.
The final dagger came in stoppage time, as Gabriel Martinelli latched onto a perfectly weighted pass and slotted calmly past Courtois to seal the 2-1 victory on the night—and 5-1 overall.
Mikel Arteta’s men now will now play PSG in the semi-final of the Champions League.