'Coming of age': How the press reacted to Arsenal humbling Real Madrid at the Bernabeu
Arsenal progressed to the last four of the Champions League after a 5-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid.
The Gunners picked up a 3-0 win over Los Blancos in the first leg of the quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium last week.
There was much talk about a ‘remontada’ from Madrid, but nothing of that sort happened at the Bernabeu last night.
Arsenal sealed a 2-1 victory in the second leg after goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
Mikel Arteta’s side were by far the best team across both legs and deservedly qualified for the semi-final.
Meanwhile, there were plenty of reactions in the press after Arsenal’s superb victory at the Bernabeu.
As per Mirror, Arsenal have to be seen as ‘serious candidates‘ to win the competition after smashing Madrid’s methodology.
The Sun said the victory was a ‘tactical masterclass‘ from Arteta as there was not a hint of fear facing Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Guardian described it as a ‘coming of age’ performance, one which the Gunners will remember for a long time.
The Telegraph believe it was a ‘defining night’ for Arteta as the Gunners hammered the European champions.
The Independent highlighted that Arsenal resisted Madrid’s magic to script new Champions League history.
Football Today praised Declan Rice for stepping up and outclassing Jude Bellingham across both legs of the quarter-final.
In Spain, El Dia de Cordoba (page 36) said the reigning champions were eliminated by a team ‘full of personality’, one that ‘never trembled under pressure’.
AS (page 2) felt Arsenal weren’t afraid of the Bernabeu and a remontada is nothing more than a glorious excuse for a colossal disaster from Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Marca (page 1) hinted at Ancelotti’s possible exit with the tagline: ‘The king abdicates without even brushing glory’. They added Madrid looked ‘powerless’ against Arsenal.
Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League semi-final for the first time since 2009.
The Gunners were definitely underdogs for the quarter-final versus Madrid, but the club made a massive statement with the 5-1 aggregate victory over the holders.
The London giants face Paris Saint-Germain in the last four of the competition. They will host the first leg at the Emirates on April 29 before facing PSG in Paris on May 7.
Having the first leg at home may not be a bad thing for Arsenal. The Gunners have momentum on their side, and Arteta will be eyeing another solid win at the Emirates.
Arsenal beat Les Parisiens 2-0 in the league phase earlier this season, but the French heavyweights did not have Ousmane Dembele or Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for that game.
Dembele was absent due to disciplinary reasons at that time. Kvaratskhelia only joined PSG from Napoli in January. He has been a revelation from the left side of the attack.
Arsenal must play at their best to outclass Les Parisiens. If the Gunners manage to do so, they could face either Inter Milan or Barcelona in the final in Munich on May 31.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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