image via - @Arsenal/ X

‘Thanks to Pep Guardiola’ – Mikel Arteta Applauds His Mentor After Arsenal Go Past Real Madrid to the Champions League Semi-Finals

Mikel Arteta Spent Several Years With Pep Guardiola At City Before Taking Over Arsenal.

image via - @Arsenal/ X

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta became the first boss to guide the Gunners to a Champions League semi-final since 2009. Beating Real Madrid 5-1 on the aggregate, the Spanish manager has written history at the Spanish Capital.

Taking over the North London club in 2019, will be one of the highest achievements Arteta has registered in his tenure. Arteta in his latest victory has mentioned Pep Guardiola with heavy credit for his success. Accompanying Guardiola has helped Arteta in numerous ways as he’s also never been shy of mentioning it.

Arsenal are in their third ever Champions League semi-final and what a way to do it.

Winning both legs shows the levels Mikel Arteta has elevated this club to since taking over in December 2019 when they were struggling in the group stages of the Europa League.

Bukayo Saka and… pic.twitter.com/l4DsucyyCf
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) April 16, 2025

The former Arsenal player served as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City for several years. Arsenal’s boss has also mentioned Guardiola’s teachings helping him over the years. Celebrating their victorious night, Arteta made sure he mentioned Guardiola in the conversation as he told the media,

“If I’m here, it’s thanks to Pep Guardiola. I called him this morning. I will always be grateful to him”

“As a player and as a coach he’s been an inspiration for me and he’s the person that decided to bet on me, to include me as a second coach. I lived four amazing years with him [at #ManCity] and I have to be grateful, I’ll always be grateful to him otherwise I wouldn’t be here”

Arsenal pulled off what is a rare sighting in the Champions League by knocking Real Madrid out of the quarterfinals. Continuing on the atmosphere at Real Madrid, Arteta said:

“It’s incredible. Full credits to them, two minutes into the game I understood why crazy things happen at the Santiago Bernabeu”

ALSO READ: ‘Bukayo Saka Is 100% World Class’ – Rio Ferdinand Switches Comments After Receiving Backlash on Criticism of the Arsenal Winger

Arteta also spoke on his post-game conversation with Ancelotti. He said that: “Ancelotti told me that he hopes Arsenal win the UCL.” Knocking out the defending champions will bring in a huge boost in Arsenal squad as they face PSG next in the competition.

Arsenal with Arteta are seeing some of their best days in football for the club over the past decade. Having a gradual process, the Spanish manager has built a stellar squad around him to work with for higher levels. If they continue in a similar fashion, anything could be up for grabs for the Gunners in the coming years.

Arsenal

Champions League

Mikel Arteta

Pep Guardiola

Real Madrid vs Arsenal

Mayur Dedwal

soccer

I’m a Sports Content Writer with expertise in football. Being a decade old football enthusiast and part-time coach, I try to bring to life to the articles in a statistical manner. Being around all kinds of sports updates and able to put in my perspective’s to the happenings in the world of football are few of the many things i like in doing what i do. You can find me playing Sunday leagues or Xbox on weekends!