Arsenal dumped out holders Actual Madrid as a 2-1 win in Spain on Wednesday accomplished a 5-1 combination victory for Mikel Arteta’s facet and arrange a Champions League semifinal towards Paris Saint-Germain.
Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal the lead within the second half after having an early penalty saved earlier than Vinicius Junior struck for Madrid.
Gabriel Martinelli scored a late winner on the evening because the Gunners eased by means of to a primary semifinal look in Europe’s prime membership competitors since 2009.
Our goalscorers 🤩 pic.twitter.com/uuAGyzM4z9
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 16, 2025
Los Blancos, way more brittle than after they gained a Champions League and LaLiga double final season, have been satisfied they might flip the sport round however created too little towards Arsenal’s tight defence.
The Premier League facet held their nerve to achieve the semifinals for under the third time of their historical past.
Kylian Mbappe chested dwelling within the opening levels however was clearly offside, with the ahead gesturing to the gang to show up the quantity to create the fabled aura which helps Madrid pull off near-impossible feats on the Santiago Bernabeu.
David Alaba was booked for hacking down Saka as Madrid tried so as to add the grit they badly lacked of their first leg demolition in London, and the Arsenal winger additionally had a drive fielded properly by Thibaut Courtois.
Arsenal have been awarded a penalty seemingly out of the blue when the VAR sales space instructed French referee Francois Letexier to evaluation an incident from an earlier nook.
Raul Asencio pulled again Arsenal ahead Mikel Merino within the space and Letexier pointed to the spot, to the bemusement of the house crowd.
SAKA PENALTY SAVED
Saka stepped as much as take it however his poorly-executed Panenka, skewing off to the left, was saved by Courtois.
It spurred Actual Madrid on and shortly that they had a penalty of their very own, when Mbappe hit the turf after Declan Rice tussled with him.
Nevertheless after a prolonged VAR evaluation Letexier was known as to take a re-examination and he then determined Arsenal’s two-goal first leg hero Rice had not fouled the French famous person.
The breaks in play, together with Arsenal’s dallying at each alternative, disrupted Madrid’s momentum they usually struggled to threaten Gunners stopper David Raya.
For all of Madrid’s bluster the goalkeeper didn’t have to make a save within the first half, whereas Courtois stopped three photographs, together with a Martinelli effort from a good angle in added time, of which there was loads after the VAR opinions.
On the hour mark Carlo Ancelotti took motion with a triple change, together with changing the quiet Rodrygo with teen starlet Endrick, and bringing on Dani Ceballos towards his former facet.
Martin Odegaard, additionally going through his former employers whom he joined as a ‘wonderkid’ a decade in the past, helped forge Arsenal’s opening aim after 65 minutes.
The Norwegian linked with Merino, who slipped Saka in behind and the Englishman made amends for his penalty blunder with an ice-cool dinked end.
4 objectives forward within the tie Arsenal thought their work was carried out, with defender William Saliba not concentrating on the sting of his field in possession.
Vinicius stole the ball away from him and beat the out-of-position Raya to degree, two minutes after Saka’s opener.
Madrid’s more and more slim hopes have been dashed when Mbappe limped off with an ankle downside with quarter-hour remaining, and Martinelli made positive with a cool end after Merino set him up.
THIS TEAM ❤️ pic.twitter.com/sfMR3mbcWG
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 16, 2025
