Arsenal dethroned the kings of the Champions League with ease as a 5-1 combination rout of Real Madrid despatched the Gunners into the semifinals for the primary time since 2009.
A commanding 3-0 first leg victory, lit up by two beautiful Declan Rice free-kicks, laid the foundations in London.
But a 2-1 win within the cauldron of the Santiago Bernabeu to finish the job on Wednesday (April 16, 2025) was a coming-of-age efficiency for Mikel Arteta’s rising stars.
Arteta’s solely main trophy in 5 and a half years in cost stays the 2020 FA Cup simply months into his reign.
But the Spaniard has reworked a sleeping large again into serial contenders for main honours.
Going to do particular issues: Declan Rice
“I sensed before I signed for the club that we were on an upwards trajectory,” mentioned Rice, who rejected the advances of Manchester City to hitch Arsenal for a membership file £105 million ($139 million) in 2023.
“This club is going to do special things in the coming years. We all fully believe in it, we have full trust in this manager – he’s unbelievable!”
Despite by no means successful the competitors, Arsenal have been half of the Champions League furnishings within the early years of Arsene Wenger’s reign.
Between 2000 and 2017 they by no means didn’t qualify for Europe’s elite competitors. But when that run got here to an finish, they spent six years with out Champions League soccer.
Slowly Arteta rebuilt Arsenal again right into a power round a core of promising expertise now coming into their prime.
Saka’s star flip
Not for the primary time in his younger profession, Bukayo Saka didn’t let a missed penalty on the massive stage have an effect on him.
Saka’s early spot-kick was saved by Thibaut Courtois, giving Madrid perception one other miraculous Champions League comeback was on for the Spanish giants.
But the England worldwide extinguished that hope with a luxurious dink over the large Belgian ‘keeper 25 minutes from time to give Arsenal the lead on the night.
William Saliba blotted what was an otherwise flawless display over two legs to shut down his French international team-mate Kylian Mbappe moments later as Vinicius Junior pounced to bring Real level.
Rice ‘immense’
But even then Arsenal have been unflustered and shortly snuffed out any Madrid momentum. Full-backs Myles Lewis-Skelly and Jurrien Timber locked down the risk of Vinicius and Rodrygo out extensive.
And Rice received the midfield battle against his England team-mate Jude Bellingham with a virtuoso efficiency that noticed him topped man of the match in each legs.
“Tonight he was immense,” mentioned Arteta. “In the moment that the game was 50-50, he got on the ball and turned the game.”
Premier League
In the previous two seasons, Arsenal have fallen simply quick to an all-conquering Manchester City within the Premier League title race. They are on track to complete second for a 3rd consecutive 12 months as Liverpool shut in on the title.
But the Champions League affords Arteta the prospect to ship the most important piece of silverware that his undertaking continues to be lacking.
“It’s such a special night for this club, it’s a historic night for this club,” added Rice. “We have an objective in this competition, we want to play the best teams and we want to win this competition.”
PSG awaits
One of Arteta’s former golf equipment as a participant, Paris Saint-Germain, await within the final 4 of a large open competitors.
None of the golf equipment remaining have received the competitors for at the very least a decade as Barcelona face Inter Milan within the different semi-final.
“It’s the third time in our history that we’ve done what we’ve just done (reaching the semi-finals),” added Arteta. “So we need to build on that. We are really hungry, we want more. It’s a really young team that is very determined.
“And all these experiences, including me for sure, is going to help us a lot to try to achieve something big.”
Published – April 17, 2025 11:13 am IST
