Arteta thanks Guardiola after UCL win: ‘Always grateful to him’

The Gunners traveled to the Santiago Bernabéu with a dominant 3-0 lead from the first leg, partly due to a set-piece tutorial by Declan Rice. The return leg in the Spanish capital was not lacking in drama. Arsenal were given a dramatic first half with Bukayo Saka spurning a golden chance on the penalty spot. Real Madrid also had their spot-kick opportunity snuffed out by a VAR intervention, with the teams remaining deadlocked at 0-0 at the interval.

But Saka made amends in style after the break, giving Arsenal the lead with a wonderful finish. Real Madrid responded quickly through Vinicius Junior, but it was Gabriel Martinelli who made the kill in stoppage time, sprinting clear to wrap up a 2-1 victory on the night and a comprehensive 5-1 aggregate triumph.

The Bigger Picture

Wednesday’s victory was one of the greatest memories of Arteta’s reign as the north London club’s manager. It also ensured Arsenal’s qualification for the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 16 years, with their last semi-final appearance coming in the 2008-09 season.

What Arteta said about Pep Guardiola

After the match, Arteta shared how he sought inspiration from the very man who first introduced him to elite-level coaching.

“I called him [Pep Guardiola] this morning [ahead of Real Madrid] because I think that if I’m here it’s thanks to him to a great extent,” the Arsenal boss admitted. “As a player and as a coach, he’s been an inspiration for me, and he’s the person who decided to bet on me, to include me as a second coach. I lived four amazing years with him [at Man City] and I have to be grateful, I’ll always be grateful to him, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”

Arteta played four years together with Guardiola at Manchester City, where the two formed a close working relationship. Together, they won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and a Community Shield, building City into one of English football’s most dominant sides.

What’s next for Arsenal?

With the semi-finals looming, Arteta’s team will now take on Paris Saint-Germain, who beat Aston Villa 5-4 over two legs in their own quarter-final drama. The semi-final battle with PSG will start at the Emirates on April 29, before the Gunners make the trip to the French capital for the return leg on May 7. Prior to devoting all their attention to Europe, Arsenal head back to domestic duty this weekend as a Premier League encounter against Ipswich Town at Portman Road awaits them.