Arsenal eliminate Real Madrid to reach Champions League semi-final

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli fire Arsenal past Real Madrid as Gunners reach first Champions League semi-final since 2009.

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 quarter-final second leg match between Real Madrid and Arsenal at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain, on April 16, 2025. Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Arsenal eliminate Real Madrid from the Champions League after a brilliant 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night, completing a sensational 5-1 aggregate victory that sends them to the semi-finals for the first time in 15 years. Despite the threat posed by Real Madrid’s legendary resilience and star-studded squad, Arsenal’s confidence, discipline, and attacking efficiency proved too much for the 15-time European champions.

With goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli securing the win in Spain, the Gunners showed that their emphatic 3-0 first-leg result in London was no fluke. That earlier win had built the perfect foundation for a composed and clinical second-leg performance, one that confirmed Arsenal’s transformation into genuine Champions League contenders under Mikel Arteta.

Saka redeems penalty miss as Arsenal show steel

After a goalless but tense opening half, Bukayo Saka silenced the Bernabeu with a brilliant finish in the 65th minute, just moments after missing a first-half penalty. The miss might have rattled a lesser player, but the 22-year-old England international remained calm and delivered the opener that effectively buried Madrid’s hopes.

Saka’s chance from the spot had come after Mikel Merino was pulled down in the box by Raul Asencio. Though the penalty decision took Madrid fans by surprise—following a lengthy VAR review—the home crowd erupted when Thibaut Courtois comfortably saved Saka’s weak Panenka-style effort. Rather than fall apart, Saka regrouped and finished with composure when it mattered most.

“I knew I had to respond, and I wasn’t going to let that miss define my night,” Saka told reporters post-match. “This team never backs down, and we’re making history together.”

Vinicius goal gives Madrid brief hope

Real Madrid’s only goal of the tie came just two minutes after Saka’s opener. William Saliba was caught napping on the edge of the Arsenal box, allowing Vinicius Junior to pounce. The Brazilian forward skipped past David Raya and slotted into an empty net, giving the home crowd a fleeting moment of belief.

But it never turned into momentum. Madrid struggled to sustain pressure against Arsenal’s organized defensive structure. Without the injured Jude Bellingham and with Kylian Mbappe fading out of the game, Madrid simply lacked the cutting edge that has seen them escape similar situations in previous years.

Worse still, Mbappe limped off in the 75th minute after appearing to twist his ankle, extinguishing whatever fire remained in the Spanish giants.

Martinelli seals famous Arsenal win

The final nail in Real Madrid’s coffin came in stoppage time when substitute Gabriel Martinelli raced onto a pass from Merino and coolly finished past Courtois. As Martinelli wheeled away in celebration, Madrid fans began to file out, knowing their European dream was over for the season.

Arsenal’s aggregate 5-1 scoreline was not only dominant—it was historic. This was just the third time Madrid had conceded five goals over two legs in Champions League knockout history.

Declan Rice, who starred in the first leg with two stunning free-kick goals, was beaming after the final whistle. “We knew we were going to suffer, but we knew we were going to win,” he told TNT Sports. “This is a special night for Arsenal and our fans. It’s historic.”

Arsenal look ahead to PSG semi-final showdown

Arsenal’s reward for eliminating Real Madrid is a semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain. The French champions, led by Mbappe—if fit—will present a different kind of challenge. But Arsenal have every reason to believe they can go all the way.

This run marks Arsenal’s deepest campaign in Europe’s top club competition since 2009, when they were knocked out in the semis by Manchester United. This time, they believe things can be different.

“We don’t just want to get to the semi-finals—we want to win the whole thing,” said club captain Martin Ødegaard, who faced his former club and played a key role in Saka’s goal. “That belief is stronger than ever.”

Coach Mikel Arteta echoed those sentiments during his post-match interview. “I’ve never been prouder of this team,” he said. “Not just because of the result, but because of the way we got it. It shows our identity, our maturity, and our hunger. This is a night to remember for every Arsenal supporter.”

Madrid forced to face their decline

For Real Madrid, the result was a sobering reminder that their golden generation is fading. Despite high expectations following their double-winning campaign last season, the Spanish giants looked pedestrian across both legs.

Thibaut Courtois was one of few Madrid players to acknowledge Arsenal’s superiority. “We lost against a better team, and we have to accept that,” he said. “Sometimes football gives you joy, and sometimes it gives you pain. Tonight, it hurts.”

Coach Carlo Ancelotti also admitted the gap. “We lacked control, especially in midfield. We didn't create enough, and Arsenal punished us. They deserved to go through.”

Madrid’s front line—Mbappe, Vinicius, and Rodrygo—found space hard to come by, and the midfield trio of Modric, Valverde, and Camavinga never imposed themselves. In contrast, Arsenal’s discipline and tactical awareness shone through.

Saka’s redemption and Arsenal’s resurgence

Saka’s journey from Euro 2020 heartbreak to Champions League hero has come full circle. His composure, resilience, and match-winning ability are now defining traits for both club and country. Though his Panenka penalty misfired, his performance reflected the kind of mental strength that separates stars from superstars.

He, along with Merino, Ødegaard, Martinelli, and Rice, forms the young core driving Arsenal’s resurgence on the biggest stage.

With the Premier League title race still ongoing and now a Champions League semi-final looming, Arsenal are daring to dream. This could be a season that redefines the club’s modern legacy.

And if they continue playing like this—fearless, focused, and full of belief—then lifting the Champions League trophy for the first time in their history is no longer a fantasy. It’s a very real possibility.

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