How Easy Dispatching of Real Madrid Proved Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal Have Finally Come of Age

Gabriel Martinelli netted the killer goal against Real Madrid. Image || Imago

How Easy Dispatching of Real Madrid Proved Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal Have Finally Come of Age

Mark Kinyanjui 13:45 - 17.04.2025

Following their 5-1 aggregate win, Arsenal remain against Real Madrid in all the Champions League match-ups between both sides.

Two games, two wins, five goals scored — and one emphatic message to Europe: Arsenal are back among the Champions League elite. 

Mikel Arteta’s side didn’t just beat Real Madrid over two legs — they outclassed them, capped off by a 2-1 win at the Bernabeu that followed last week’s 3-0 masterclass in London. 

With a semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain now looming, Arsenal fans are dreaming once again.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News from Pulse Sports.

After a week of noise around a possible Real Madrid remontada, Arsenal walked into the Bernabeu, silenced the myths, and walked out with belief coursing through their veins. This wasn’t just a win. It was a systematic takedown of the reigning champions. A club steeped in Champions League pedigree was made to look pedestrian.

The pressure was immense, the atmosphere hostile, and yet Arteta’s side looked utterly at home. Even Bukayo Saka’s missed penalty early on couldn’t rattle them. 

He made amends with a classy finish to open the scoring, latching onto a precise pass from Mikel Merino — a moment of redemption months in the making after injury had kept Saka from Europe’s biggest stage for much of the season.

It was fitting that Gabriel Martinelli netted the winner. In Arsenal’s leaner years, he and Saka symbolised hope for better days. On a famous night in Madrid, that promise blossomed into something real.

Arteta, reflecting on the triumph, couldn’t contain his pride. “Probably not,” he said when asked if he’d ever been prouder of his players. “It’s not just that we’re in the semi-final for only the third time in our history — it’s the way we did it. With the injuries, the pressure, everything. It shows the character of this team, of this club.”

The Arsenal boss admitted the result was a deeply personal moment of reassurance. “I’m here to go through nights like this. You don’t always win, so you have to be critical, but this group believes. That’s a huge part of what we do as coaches — helping them feel that belief.”

Despite moments of chaos typical of a Champions League night in Madrid , Saka’s failed panenka, a briefly awarded then overturned penalty against Declan Rice, William Saliba’s rare error that gifted Madrid their goal, and a suspension-inducing yellow for Thomas Partey,  Arsenal kept their nerve. 

Teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly played with the composure of a veteran in just his 20th senior start. Jakub Kiwior stepped in for the injured Gabriel with quiet authority.

 Merino’s evolution into a genuine centre-forward continued to stun, while Saka and Martinelli were relentless all night.

But the standout was Declan Rice. The £105 million midfielder utterly bossed the centre of the park, comfortably overshadowing Jude Bellingham. Madrid’s threat evaporated when Kylian Mbappé, brought to his knees by Rice’s dominance, was forced off injured.

In the stands, Arsenal fans — loud, proud, and jubilant — savoured their club’s second-ever away win at the Bernabeu, echoing the magic of 2006. 

This time, Real Madrid had no complaints. “Arsenal were better than us in both games,” admitted Carlo Ancelotti without hesitation.

Yes, the conversation will continue around Arsenal’s hunt for major silverware — the Premier League or Champions League. But what’s becoming clear is this: while the destination remains the same, the journey is full of moments worth celebrating. 

This Real Madrid tie is no footnote — it’s a landmark.

When Arteta took charge five years ago, the idea of Arsenal even qualifying for the Champions League felt distant. Now, they’ve knocked out the holders and are one step from the final. The progress hasn’t always been smooth, but it has been undeniable.

“This is another massive step,” Arteta said. “To beat the most successful club in the competition — and to do it the way we did — it’s just incredible.”

One day, when Arsenal finally do lift the big one, this victory will be remembered not just for what it achieved, but for what it signified: a young team, under a visionary manager, growing up right before our eyes.