Last Wednesday, The Gunners outstandingly advanced to the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2009 after forcing current holders Real Madrid to collapse.
After a nervy first half Arsenal kicked into gear, inside the 65th minute Bukayo Saka pounced on a Mikel Merino through ball finding the back of the net from the centre of the box making it 1-0.
However within only moments the North Londoner’s conceded an equaliser (1-1) following a poor defensive mistake at the back witnessing Vinicius Junior capitalise on the error.
In the final moments of the second-leg despite Arsenal 4-1 up on aggregate Gabriel Martinelli finished off the game for Mikel Arteta’s team to seal the 2-1 victory.
Madrid’s manager Carlos Ancelotti believes Arsenal have what it takes to claim Champions League glory by what he saw from Arteta’s Gunners, he told the Daily Mail:” There aren’t many complete teams in Europe. There are teams who do some things well but not many that do everything well like Arsenal do.”
It was the first time The Gunners had won at the Bernabeu for 20 years since beating Real Madrid 1-0 during the Champions League round of 16 during the 2005/05 season on their way to the final which they lost 1-2 to Spanish rivals Barcelona.
Arsenal have become “Super Arsenal” this season in the Champions League and the past two rounds of the competition have highlighted that. In the round of 16 The Gunners annihilated PSV 9-2 over both legs and this time round Carlos Ancelotti’s side 5-1 unexpectedly.
If you took the Gunners by their current league form you’d be surprised that they’d even surpassed the Champions’ League group stage, yet alone qualify for the competition.
Back at the start of the year the Champions League super computer predicted Arsenal as favourites to win the competition with many sceptical of its prediction, but now it’s become a reality through the results, players and Arteta in charge of the managerial reigns.
When Arsenal were last in the semis of the competition in 2009 we bowed out to the indomitable Manchester United held together by Alex Ferguson, but now we face PSG who we’ve already beaten this campaign in the group stage 2-0.
The Gunners should feel confident going into the semis knowing this, as well as the fact that PSG just about got past an Aston Villa side on Tuesday, who struggled to beat a relegated Southampton in the Premier League last week leaving it till the final half an hour to score three goals in desperate fashion.
If Arteta can take Arsenal to Munich and win in the final it will surely be one of the greatest days in the clubs 129 year history, but we must get past PSG first and the red side of North London are cheering them on.
If not now, then when?
Liam Harding
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Only four clubs have managed to eliminate the 15 time winner from the champions league in the last eleven campaign, The Citizens twice, then followed by Chelsea and Ajax,
With Arsenal now joining that small elite represent another enormous step forward under the gaffer
One could argue in the defeat to Bryan Munich in the quarter finals last season we looked reasonable well, but still seems a little wet around the ears.
Our progres in a year is a testament to the hard work put in by the young Spaniard, This Real Madrid result suddenly transformed the out look of this final phase , which was in danger of peterring out amid recrimiations about the Kroenke’s failure to sign a striker and also our standing in Europe and future prospect under the gaffer.
So while London top dog struggles against low blocks this campaign, they are no team left in the last four who are likely to set up to frustrate us.
And with a refresh Saka, who had claimed he benefited from. A three months lay off, it just have this optimism somthing Massive could happen.
In the defeat to Bayern last year we were missing Jurien Timber & we didn’t have Mikel Merino. Myles Lewis Skelly wasn’t in the team either. So u see, we have come a long way in just one year. Disbelief in our ability to win it is at your own peril.
Fortunately, we will play against the open PSG instead of the cagey Aston Villa
I predict we will play against Inter Milan in the final
Arteta has around one month to figure out how to play against low-block teams like Inter Milan, with his ravaged squad
Hope it’s inter
I can’t do Barca again
Heart can’t take it
I hope we’ll meet Barcelona in the final, because Inter Milan are so defensive
Our focus now is PSG, not inter , not barca, it’s what is in front of us we play
When PSG is taken out of the way,thfn we face what ever is in front of us💪
Coyg
Barca will come at us with their high line all out attack football which will favor us more as we play really good vs Team who play open football. Inter low block cagey match with explosive forwards has proven to be our kryptonite the last few years.
Also will feel good to finally get one over Barca after all those painful moments.
At this point not sure it matters who we get, though we seems to show a liking for the bigger fishes.
I really would give anything to meet Barca in the finals. Meeting Inter will pose a big problem considering how they play.
I just think Inter play in a way we would always be in a game while Barca can just take the game away from you
Bro we fear no for,who ever comes our way we play
I share the same thought. I believe that if we had played Atlético de Madrid in the quarterfinals, we would have had an even more complicated game.
Belated congratulations to Mikel and the lads, every individual contributed to this epic victory.
I expected a QF victory and the plastic fans viewed it as sarcasm and poked fun. Nevertheless, I support Arsenal Football Club.
PSG – difficult to predict as Thomas Partey will not be playing the home match, we drop points when he does not play in the midfield. If we can keep a clean sheet at home, we can nick a goal or two at Paris.
Keep believing gunners – will need a new shelf at the Emirates for the big fat silver jug.
We thank Mikel and his team and the Arsenal boys for trusting themselves and playing their game. Where are all the stereotypes who were making noise that Arsenal needs number nine to win games, where the h are they now? The G..las, N..vile, O…n, K….ne and F….nd of this world. I think is time they swallow their b pride, apologies to Arteta and beg off and mind their own poor businesses.
Jurien Timber the most underrated player. This guy make everyone better cause, he’s busy doing all the dirty works both in the back and midfield. So long as Timber is on the pitch no one will miss Partey.
Anyone else tired of the ‘super computer’ bulls@#t??
But in regard to the article, I hold out hope of beating PSG as I believe we have the superior defence and will definitely get chances against them across both legs. Don’t care about final opponents, let’s just get there first. COYG!!