Credit: @Arsenal / X

‘It Shows the Character of This Team, This Club’ – Prouder Than Ever Manager Mikel Arteta Showers Praise on the Gunners

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta praised his team's maturity after securing a place in the Champions League semi-finals.

Credit: @Arsenal / X

Bukayo Saka scored one and missed a penalty as Arsenal edged past Real Madrid in an impressive 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. In what will go down as a historic night for the Gunners, the North London side defended their 3-0 first-leg advantage with a superb performance. The 5-1 aggregate victory over the reigning European champions sealed their place in the Champions League semi-finals for just the third time in the club’s history.

Saka’s attempted Panenka penalty was saved early on while Real had a penalty call overturned by VAR, which kept tensions high in the 1st half. However, Saka redeemed himself by opening the scoring in the second half, putting Arsenal 4-0 up on aggregate. Real Madrid responded swiftly through Vinicius, who capitalized on a defensive slip from William Saliba to level the match. Yet Mikel Arteta’s side never looked in trouble, and Gabriel Martinelli sealed the win late on.

Arsenal through and through ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vYM3BHR0WT
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 16, 2025

One of the Best Nights in My Football Career: Mikel Arteta

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta praised his team’s maturity after securing a place in the Champions League semi-finals. He even went on describe the win as “one of the best nights” of his football career. Arsenal will now face PSG in the semi-finals of the tournament and Arteta said he had never been prouder of his players.

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“Not only because we’re in the semi-final but the manner we did it. Because of the circumstances, the amount of injuries. It shows the character of this team, this club. This is another massive step for us.”

“I think overall it shows the character of this team, of this club, and it’s a night to be very proud of.

“It’s certainly another massive step. The way we finished last year and the way we’ve done it this year against the team with the highest honours in this competition, it’s incredible.”

Also Read: ‘I Will Do Nothing But Thank the Club If I Leave’ – Ancelotti Reflects After Real Madrid’s Arsenal Rout

Mikel Arteta went on to say that that the momentum is now with Arsenal to go all the way in the Champions League, following their historic triumph over Real Madrid. Notably, Arsenal became the first English side to win at the Bernabeu twice.

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Champions League

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Abhinav Goel

soccer

I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.