Arsenal delivered a memorable performance at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday evening, securing a 2–1 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg. The result followed an emphatic 3–0 win in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, allowing the Gunners to progress to the semi-finals of Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
Despite their strong position heading into the return leg, Arsenal faced widespread scepticism. Real Madrid, as defending champions and the most decorated club in the history of the tournament, were widely expected to mount a significant comeback on home soil. However, Mikel Arteta’s side defied expectations with a composed and confident display, firmly establishing themselves as serious contenders for this year’s title.
This week’s triumph marks Arsenal’s second visit to the Bernabéu—and their second victory there. Remarkably, they are now the first club to win on their first two visits to the iconic stadium in 77 years, as reported by Arsenal Media. Their first triumph in the Spanish capital came in 2006, when Thierry Henry scored a memorable solo goal to seal a 1–0 victory in the Round of 16.
The parallels between the two victories have not gone unnoticed. Both wins came in the Champions League, both were achieved against a formidable Real Madrid side, and both demonstrated Arsenal’s ability to rise to the occasion on the biggest stage. The club will now look to maintain this momentum as they prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final.
Overcoming Real Madrid across two legs is a significant achievement, and it has instilled belief within the squad and among supporters that this could be Arsenal’s year. The team’s recent form has been outstanding, and the players are displaying the confidence and composure required to navigate the latter stages of the competition.
With PSG up next, Arsenal will be aiming to take another step towards European glory. Having eliminated the side many considered the strongest remaining in the competition, there is now real optimism that the Gunners can go all the way.
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This will take time before properly sinking in for some but understandable so.
The cemetery of talents is a club that have won many a game whether they turn up or not, but this time must have felt different.
Just imagine in the same tunnel rubbing shoulders with Mbbappe, Modric, the Zidane’s , the Ronaldinho’s.
A player once confess, his knees gave way just seeing the legendary Henry in the tunnel
So are we cemmentery of talents then ?
Here’s the difference
If Real finish 2nd look how they as a club will react compared to ours
Look our their owners will react
Even if they now win La Liga some will see that as not good enough
The likes of you humiliate our fan base
This weekend we could lose the title and instead of saying that’s not good enough your mocking a club who since Arteta has been a manager have won
3 La Ligas
Copa Del Ray
2 Champions League
2 UEFA Super Cup
2 Spanish Super Cup
FIfA World cup
Yet they are the cemmentery of talents and dreams will not come true for most of their squad ?
So what does that make Saka who in same time has won ……a FA Cup ?
No, we are known worldwide as a club that gives kids chance.
Am going to answer your question with one simple question, please don’t hop off the rails now🙂
If you were Saka or even his family member, would you had preferred to be at Real Madrid warming bench or in the stand accumulating those silverware.
I would rather be on Real Madrids bench winning medals then playing winning nothing
Can I ask what subs you are referring too but most have contributed
Dan,
Unless you play enough games I don’t think you can get a winners’ medal. I think that is what Gunsmoke is on about. Or, you play so infrequently as to be almost irrelevant to the success of the team members that do get to play. It becomes a bit hollow getting a medal knowing that you only come on in the 89th minute. So that is something that you can buy into? A bit part player?
If he isn’t on about that, then I am stumped
So I’m meant to believe that every time he wrote cemmentery of talent he was aiming a deeg at the few subs who never play ?
Doubtful
For record
We win CL, every member of our squad deserves a medal as ( especially in era with 5 subs ) they all contribute
Invincible season squad players like Edu and Parlour were huge
It isn’t my debate, but I did look up the expression and Google came up with the following out of interest:-
a place or situation where skilled or talented individuals are not utilised or appreciated, leading to their potential being wasted or diminished – as in being bench warmers.
Rotation is one thing, but how often did Kiwior get on the pitch before the injury to GM? Minutes here and there.
The point is that RM hire the biggest names and a previous article talked about the dissatisfaction felt by former Arsenal players who made the move to Barcelona. It is hollow to be in the squad and barely play.
It’s everyone debate SueP, and you are welcome every time.
But thanks a million I didn’t realize goggle explained it so explicitly.
So who are these players
Name them
Me?
Hleb, Petit etc from previous article
But the basic point remains- if you are sought after for example it must be a bad move if after you get there and the opportunities are limited. Why would a top player move to be a bench warmer? This is why players move on – to play rather than be a spectator
No
Who are these real Madrid players who’s dream players on the bench who don’t contribute to success
You’ve lost me. I’d ask Gunsmoke what he meant. I wish I hadn’t butted in
I’m off to bed
Night night
I’ll try again
RM are in a strong position due to their enduring success. Most players would jump at the chance to play for them. However, not every signing will get the regular opportunities to play because they buy the best and a squad of top players want to play regularly and not sit on the bench and wait for scraps.
Yes, these players will be part of a winning club and Gunsmoke isn’t mocking. You just can’t see the correlation between having virtually a squad full of the best in class with some who will never realise their potential at RM because there are too many of them. Using Saka purely as an example, because he is our brightest star, Madrid knocks on the door and he tootles off to Spain only to discover he won’t be a regular starter. Trent Alexander Arnold also discovers that he too is rotated rather a lot and isn’t sufficiently in the plans of the manager and comes on more as a sub. There will be other very good players who have signed in the same boat. A cemetery of talents. The answer is in the Google meaning I gave. Most clubs aren’t in Real’s position to have that much kudos.
Dan, I remember when MA was leaving Ozil out on gardening leave and he bought in a young player who had never been named in the first team squad (can’t even remember his name!!) didn’t play a second in the final and never played a second of first team football… yet he received a fa cup final winners medal……. is that what you mean by warming the bench and “winning” a medal?!
That’s why Ken I asked for the Real Madrid players on the bench to be named who have not contributed
I maintain that he was not calling Real Madrid cemmentery of talents based on their bench
Remember in today’s era you can use 5 subs
So no Ken I more meant I would rather be an Edu and have a title medal as a squad player then play for no one
Just my opinion
So what Gunsmoke is accusing RM of doing (in his opinion) we’ve actually done ourselves?
Not sure what you can be moaning about then Gunsmoke, as the incident I described is factual and even more bizzare than anything RM is doing / has done!!
No I think he was disrespectful to Real Madrid
I have compared Real recent success to Arsenal so he’s quickly changed it to …they have allot of talent who are wasted on the bench
But it’s not true
All teams now use their squads
It would be like Arsenal winning the CL but saying Tireney wouldn’t worship his medal
Of course he would
It’s a team game
” Go research what they have won since Arteta has been at the club”
Dan, am not sure the Kroenke’s were expecting five laden trophy years by now when they first hired the gaffer.
The Kroenke’s are shrewd business people, remember we weren’t even in the champions league.
The decision to higher the gaffer was a bold one
‘ Our ambitions are silverware. Silverware and trophies. I think anything short of that is not a success’
Josh Koronke said that in 2019 lol
So again , I question where your getting this from
Moving swiftly on, I thought you thought that the Kroenkes were only interested in top4 not winning silverware.
No they want to be successful they just when push comes to shove lack the ambition to do so
I thought that being successful needed ambition.
But we not successful?
Because they don’t have ambition
Hence why Liverpool could be champions by this weekend
Put it this was if we were ambition you wouldnt be defending this season
Who doesn’t have ambition? Are you suggesting that Arteta, his staff and the players are not ambitious? You surely cannot be drawing on our lack of signings in January as not being ambitious? Realistic about the prospects of catching Liverpool and spending money that had little chance of making a difference (imo) was pointless and not to do with being ambitious.
Don’t success and ambition normally go hand in hand?
Sue we been through this countless times
Our owner showed zero ambition in January
You answer your own question
You say ambition and success go hand in hand
No ambition equals zero league title
You say we are ambitious but can’t point to the trophies
If we had ambition fans like you wouldn’t have this agenda
I don’t have an agenda. However, I’m long enough in the tooth to have realised that Havertz’s injury was the end of the road as far as the league was concerned. You expected The board to find a replacement or two that would have made up the ground between us and Liverpool- at almost any cost and without considering what to do with them after the end of the season. We’ve done the list of available options and were they really goers? I’m impressed that we’re still in second. If you think I have some sort of agenda then you have a sense of entitlement that as a supporter your expectations should be realised.
Yeah there were options out there
Entitlement?
Not at all but call it like you see it
You can’t be 13 points behind Liverpool about to go 21 years without a title and say it’s acceptable
Can I ask Sue if Arsenal finished double points off the title race next season would you still say that’s okay
Hypothetical Dan and not part of this season. I wouldn’t be happy but I doubt the injuries that have blighted this season could be as bad next. What it boils down to is circumstances.
As for not winning the league for decades, you’ll no doubt have your own valid reasons as to why we didn’t before Arteta showed up.
The options were there were they?
No because of our owners
Do you know what ambitious means? Are you saying that buying Rice at the humongous fee was not ambitious enough?
Are you saying a manager saying the attack is short and needs help and doing nothing is ambitious?
Are you saying a net spend of approx 25 million in last 3 windows is ambition?
Paying Ozil and Aubameuang to rip up contracts is ambition ?
Selling your best players to Man United and City is ambitious?
I could go on
How anyone can defend our owners after January is beyond me
Because most of us understand the owner has backed MA to the hilt and has seen nothing, as far as trophies are concerned, in return.
Was it not ambition when Arteta wanted a new keeper, despite having England’s second choice keeper playing out of his skin and got him?
Was it not ambition to, yet again under the Kronkie ownership, break our record signing fee when we outbid the oil team of city115 to sign Rice?
Wasn’t it ambition to pay chelsea a reported £65 million for Havertz, despite the footballing world thinking he wasn’t worth half of that?
Tell me Dan, after answering the above of course, if MA asked Mr Kronkie for five new players in the summer transfer window and he refused, would you say the owner lacked ambition?
” I would rather be on Real Madrid bench winning medals than playing winning nothing”
This theory doesn’t work for young ambitious talented players as Saka, below I will try to explain why
Talented players with high ceiling prefers playing on the pitch as opposed to warming bench, due to a number of reasons
1) The competitive spirit
2) The desire to contribute to the team success.
3) The inherent joy of participating in the game.
Being on the field allows them to showcase their skills and earn recognition, and you know that adrenaline feeling the rush and excitement of the competition.
Though the bench is a necessary part the team set up, most time often than not it breathe frustration and is a sharp reminder reminder of limited playing times, especially for players as the Saka’s, the Odegaard’s, the Camavinga’s.
Camavinga was frustrated until Arsenal and other clubs inquiring of his availability, he was thrown at left back not his aérea of speciality
Dan your theories of late don’t seems to hold water
But Saka is not contributing to success
The Real subs are
That’s my whole point our club are about to go 21 years without a title and your mocking Real Madrid who have won how much in that time ?
Trust me go up to most fans of the Sport
An Arsenal fan mocking Real Madrid does not carry weight
Be humble
And again …name these subs and let’s break down their contributions
I have a question for you Dan
How many teams are there in Spain really knocking on the door to oust RM and historically Barcelona before their financial problems? Compare that with the Premier league where there are a few teams jostling for the top most years. Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Arsenal with others knocking on the door due to big money owners.
Therefore, there really isn’t much competition for the top 2 (with the exception of Athletico Madrid occasionally) RM are extremely wealthy. This gives them an advantage which cannot be underestimated imo. Over the years, they have been able to build on their success and maintain their allure and this has enabled to cash in on that year after year. Fear also is a factor, as can be seen by the hand wringing before the two ties recently. The ownership model is different. ManU have had a similar reputation over the decades as one of the world’s biggest clubs but that has been trashed by the Glazers. RM are at the top of the tree and it would take a monumental effort for any other squillionaire to knock them off their perch.
But I really do think you have misunderstood what Gunsmoke meant.
La Liga is more competitive then the Prem at the top .
What about the CL Real Madrid have won over the years ?
Do we discredit that ?
Of course not! Where have I discredited that? I did give an explanation as to how their supremacy came about but I have never underestimated their record.
As for competitive over a number of years I would have to disagree. This is what it’s all about. Madrid and Barcelona have been virtually unchallenged for years. It’s like the way it has been with Celtic and Rangers. In England there a several clubs with the financial clout to win. Discount the last 5 years under Pep and City (remarkable combination) then I have no doubt there would have been other winners in the mix.
Consider this; since 2003/4 when Valencia won, AM have won it twice and the rest of the time it’s either RM or Barcelona. Also consider that when they didn’t win, they did come second apart from Villarreal managed second once and a couple of times for AM So how is that competitive ?
During the same time frame Utd won it 5 times , City 8, Chelsea 5, Arsenal 1, Liverpool 1 and Leicester 1
Coming second in that time frame are Arsenal 4, Chelsea 4, ManU 5, ManC 3, Liverpool 4, and Spurs 1
Our league is not a 2 horse race
No it’s a one horse race
Which title race is more competitive this season
Before that City have dominated
What was it 6 our of 7
So in last 10 years only really City win the title , a couple of times Liverpool
But as we are talking about this Real Madrid team
Yes they have more challengers then the Champions of England get
One year it’s them , Barcelona or A Madrid
In the Prem it’s mostly Man City
I’m all but done on this subject
I’ve given you a list of winners and second places and you are now moving the goalposts to this season alone. Every year since 2003/4 either RM or Barcelona have been in the top2 By the looks of things it’s either RM or Barcelona again. Can you say who you think will come first or second here next season? I can’t because our league is more competitive. I doubt any team will run away with it and there are more teams sniffing round the top than has been the case for years. First and second are not forgone conclusions here hence it’s not a one horse race
Jusu go look at La Liga title race has compare it to ours
Before this City Man City dominated
That don’t happen In La Liga
Since Arteta been manager Barca , Real and A Madrid share title out
In England it’s mostly City
What is ambition? I think ambition can be seen when you go above expectations. Most people thought that Arsenal will crumble before RM because of their 15 trophies. Failing to win silver Ware doesn’t mean you don’t have ambition. There’s the difference between ambition and achievement. Ambition is what arsenal is doing and achievement are the 15 trophies RM bost with. So don’t say Arsenal or Mikel or Kronke aren’t ambitious.
Because our owner says his ambition is silverware and no silverware is not success
Our owners have never been ambitious
Okay answer this
If ambition and success go hand in hand and we are so ambitious
Why do we not win any league titles
I suggest you could work that out for yourself Dan. Over the last 2 decades we just haven’t been quite good enough to overcome the massive investment shown by 2 owners with City in particular , having the best manager as well.
Exactly we have not been good enough
Hence why no Arsenal fan has the right to be calling Real Madrid a cemmentery club or that their players dream won’t come true
It was a remarkable victory and Arsenal really showed they are contenders, but Real Madrid were not “the strongest side remaining in the competition”. In fact they were not even the top 3 favourites, those were: PSG, Barcelona, Inter. Personally, I think Inter are the favorites to win it.
Arsenal won Real Madrid, a big congratulations. But to compare Arsenal with real in terms of success is suicidal.
No one should that. Let us enjoy our victory and hope for great success in the feature