Arsenal produced a sensational performance to defeat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, securing their place in the Champions League semi-finals with a commanding 5-1 aggregate victory. The Gunners arrived in Madrid with a comfortable 3-0 lead from the first leg and never looked in serious danger of letting it slip, despite moments of pressure from the home side.
The match got off to a dramatic start when Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Mikel Merino was dragged down inside the area by Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio. Bukayo Saka stepped up to take the spot-kick but his effort lacked conviction and Thibaut Courtois guessed correctly to keep Madrid’s hopes alive. Shortly after, the hosts thought they had a penalty of their own when Kylian Mbappé went down under a challenge from Declan Rice, but a VAR review correctly overturned the decision, confirming minimal contact.
Arsenal remained composed and tactically disciplined throughout the opening half, keeping Madrid’s attacking threats largely at bay. The breakthrough came midway through the second half when Saka atoned for his earlier miss, calmly finishing off a rapid counter-attack to make it 4-0 on aggregate. His goal silenced the crowd and underlined Arsenal’s control over the tie.
Real Madrid responded quickly, with Vinícius Júnior capitalising on a rare mistake from William Saliba. The Brazilian intercepted a loose back pass and found the net to bring the score level on the night. The Bernabéu roared to life as Madrid briefly sensed a possible comeback, but Arsenal’s composure never wavered.
Gabriel Martinelli, coming off the bench with fresh legs and sharp intent, delivered the decisive blow late in the game. A clever through ball from Martin Ødegaard found Martinelli in stride, and the Brazilian forward made no mistake, slipping the ball past Courtois to give Arsenal the win on the night and seal the tie in dominant fashion.
This result marks Arsenal’s first Champions League semi-final appearance since 2009 and only the third in their history. Over both legs, Mikel Arteta’s side were clearly the superior team, tactically astute, defensively solid, and lethal on the break. Real Madrid, meanwhile, struggled to find fluency, relying heavily on individual brilliance rather than collective strength, a theme that has plagued much of their European campaign.
While the absence of a first-half penalty might have shifted momentum for Madrid, the overall quality and execution from Arsenal left no room for doubt. Arteta’s men have demonstrated that they are not just Premier League contenders, but a rising European force to be reckoned with.
Their reward is a semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain, another side brimming with attacking talent. It will be a true test of Arsenal’s European ambitions, but on current form, they have every reason to believe they can go all the way.
For Real Madrid, the defeat is a bitter one, especially at home, and it marks the end of another European campaign that failed to live up to their high standards. With a domestic double still within reach, attention will now turn to La Liga and the Copa del Rey. For Arsenal, however, this night will be remembered as a statement of intent—Europe, take notice.
