Arteta Celebrates Arsenal’s Tactical Brilliance and Unified Resilience in a Historic 5–1 Aggregate Victory Over Real Madrid, Setting the Stage for an Exciting Champions League Journey.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described his team’s triumph over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals as one of the most memorable moments of his football career. The Gunners secured a 5–1 aggregate victory, including a 2–1 win at the Santiago Bernabéu, to book their place in the semi-finals for the first time since 2009.
Speaking after the match, Arteta expressed immense pride in his players for their performance against the reigning European champions. “This is one of the best nights of my football career, without a doubt,” he said. “To play against a team with such a rich history in this competition and to win in the manner we did is something we should all be proud of.”
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Arteta highlighted the resilience and belief within his squad, particularly in navigating the challenges posed by Real Madrid. “After just a few minutes on the Bernabéu touchline, you realize that anything can happen in this stadium,” he remarked. “But we stayed composed, focused, and executed our game plan brilliantly.”
The Arsenal manager also praised the contributions of key players, including Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Declan Rice. Saka rebounded from an early penalty miss to score a crucial goal, while Martinelli sealed the victory with a composed finish in stoppage time. Declan Rice, who dominated the midfield, was singled out by Arteta as a game-changer. “Declan was immense; he made the difference today,” Arteta noted.
Looking ahead to the semi-finals, where Arsenal will face Paris Saint-Germain, Arteta emphasized the importance of maintaining the same level of determination and preparation. “PSG is an incredible team, and we know the challenges they will bring,” he said. “But tonight, we’ve shown that we can compete with the best. The mindset now is to prepare well and aim for the final.”
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