Arsenal secured their place in the Champions League semi-finals with a resilient display, successfully fending off Real Madrid despite the pressure of a second-leg clash in Spain.
Armed with a commanding 3-0 advantage from their exceptional first-leg performance in London, Mikel Arteta’s men entered the Santiago Bernabéu with confidence, knowing only a meltdown would deny them progression.
Their confidence seemed justified early on when they were awarded a penalty following a VAR review. However, Bukayo Saka’s attempt to cheekily chip the ball past Thibaut Courtois was comfortably saved by the Madrid goalkeeper.
The Gunners soon had cause to thank VAR once again when Declan Rice was initially penalized for a challenge on Kylian Mbappe. But after a second look on the pitch-side monitor, the referee reversed the decision, much to the relief of the visiting side.
Real Madrid, surprisingly flat throughout, struggled to break down Arsenal’s organized setup and posed limited threat going forward.
Saka redeemed himself in the second half, producing a smart finish that further tilted the tie in Arsenal’s favor. Though Vinicius Jr. responded quickly with a goal to restore some hope for the hosts, the North London side refused to crack under pressure.
In added time, Gabriel Martinelli capped the night with a clinical strike, sealing a memorable away win and underlining Arsenal’s European credentials.
