William Saliba in motion in opposition to Bradley Barcola (Picture by Shaun Botterill/Getty Pictures)
To stroll into the cauldron of the Bernabeu and to silence it the way in which they did. It was outstanding actually. In fact, over the 2 legs, it was a mauling.
Arsenal floor Madrid down and by the tip they seemed damaged. They only had no reply to Mikel Arteta’s facet.
I assumed the win within the house leg was spectacular, however the victory final night time was an indication of a staff that now genuinely believes it might probably beat anybody, anyplace.
All of the speak within the construct as much as the sport was concerning the Actual Madrid remontada and it was powerful to not get swept up by all of it when you have been over there. There was an actual perception about the way in which the Madrid gamers, the followers and the media all hyped issues up.
They clearly thought they might do it. I’m undecided they actually believed this comparatively inexperienced Arsenal facet would be capable of deal with the strain that comes from taking part in Madrid within the Bernabeu.
The narrative that was manufactured was all aimed to try to get into the minds of the Arsenal gamers, to create a way of doubt. However after they stepped out on the pitch there wasn’t a single little bit of doubt of their minds.
There was no inferiority complicated, no nerves. Arsenal went into the tie pondering they have been higher than Madrid as the sport wore on it turned very clear that they have been.
It was an enormous assertion to the remainder of Europe.
PSG within the semi-finals could possibly be a more durable take a look at for Arsenal
The semi-final goes to be very powerful. One factor you may say about Madrid is that they don’t seem to be in the very best of type, you may’t say that about Paris Saint-Germain.
The French champions are having fun with a outstanding 2025 and have already put out two Premier League groups having taken the scalps of Liverpool after which Aston Villa.
So Arsenal will know they’re going to be in for a very troublesome tie over two legs.
It’s a troublesome one to name as a result of PSG have been taking part in so properly of late, however Arsenal swept them apart with ease when the 2 sides met within the league part earlier within the season.
PSG are clearly a really completely different facet now. Ousmane Dembele wasn’t concerned that night time in October and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been introduced in since that recreation. The assault has been reworked and they’re now such a menace with their tempo and motion up entrance.
However they have been bodily dominated in that recreation on the Emirates, particularly in midfield, and that can give Arsenal loads of confidence as they begin to put together for what is going to solely be the membership’s third ever Champions League semi-final.
I’m not going to say they’re favourites, as a result of it’s simply too near name.
However Arsenal know they will beat anybody now, house or away, and that may be a excellent place to be.
