Arsenal Stun Real Madrid to Reach Champions League Semi-Finals
On an unforgettable night at the Santiago Bernabéu, Arsenal delivered a statement performance, knocking out Real Madrid with a 5-1 aggregate win to book their spot in the Champions League semi-finals for just the third time in the club’s history. A 2-1 win in the second leg on April 16, 2025, followed their dominant 3-0 showing at the Emirates, marking a major milestone for Mikel Arteta’s side as they eliminated the 15-time European champions.
Arsenal’s display was a masterclass in composure and tactical execution. Even after a rare slip from William Saliba gifted Madrid their only goal of the tie, the Gunners never lost control. Goals in the second leg and a rock-solid defensive effort kept Real at bay, despite the hosts’ late surge. A delighted Arteta called it “one of the best nights of my football career,” and praised his team’s maturity and belief against such a storied opponent.
The Gunners remain unbeaten against Real Madrid in Champions League play, now with three wins and a draw from their four meetings. They also became the only English side to win twice at the Bernabéu, having first done so back in 2006. The result is just the latest chapter in an impressive European run this season, where Arsenal have now scored 28 goals across 11 games, including thumping victories over Sporting Lisbon (5-1) and PSV Eindhoven (7-1).
Standout performances came from Bukayo Saka—back from injury and back to his best—and Declan Rice, whose two sublime free-kicks in the first leg set the tone for the tie. Even Saka’s missed penalty in the second leg didn’t dampen the mood, with Arteta emphasizing how “we did what we had to do to win the game.”
With only four teams managing to knock out Real Madrid in the past 11 years, Arsenal’s achievement has sparked genuine belief that they can go all the way. Next up: a semi-final showdown with Paris Saint-Germain. Fans are already dreaming, but Arteta remains grounded, insisting the job is far from finished.
Injury concerns continue to linger—Ben White and Thomas Partey among those nursing knocks—but Arsenal’s defensive form offers encouragement, with just six goals conceded in the competition so far.
More than just a win, this was a statement. Arsenal are back among Europe’s elite, silencing the doubters and igniting the dreams of a fanbase that has long waited for a moment like this. As one fan put it on X: “What a result, what a performance—one of the best I’ve ever experienced.”
With PSG looming, Arsenal’s demolition of Real Madrid stands as proof of how far they’ve come—and how close they might be to European glory.