When The Never Ending Story reached its final page, Bukayo Saka stood at the north end of the Santiago Bernabéu, shrugging a familiar shrug that said, “How about that, then?” And that was special. Arsenal story was created as Mikel Arteta had requested, and it was complete with a coming-of-age scenario they will remember for a long time.
The goal that clinched Arsenal’s progress to their third European Cup semi-final reflected how they had played here: an exercise in patience, control, and maturity.
Precision, timing, and courage are also essential. Saka had missed a first-half penalty that could have accelerated their progress, which may have seemed like a disaster amid the lion’s den into which they had gone, but he was neither sunk nor afraid. None were by legend, environment, history, or the players who came before them. There was none of the fatalistic fear that had caused so many others to shatter and fall here, nor was there any of Madrid’s aura. Instead, the Bernabéu spell was broken, and Real Madrid was duly ousted.
Arsenal’s 3-0 first-leg lead was never in jeopardy, even after conceding an outrageous equalizer after Saka’s goal. The type of moment that usually causes lunacy, a sense of approaching catastrophe, did not occur; the men in black assured this.
And then, as if to emphasize their supremacy – and make no mistake, they have been far superior to Madrid throughout these two legs – Gabriel Martinelli raced through the middle of what little was left of the home defenders in the final minute and tapped past Thibaut Courtois.
Arsenal had not only beaten the European champions 5-1 on aggregate, but they had done so in two games. High in the stands above, supporters sang late into what may have been the most incredible night in European history, completed on the grandest stage and in spectacular style.
After defeating Madrid a week ago, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, and Thomas Partey took control of the midfield and completed the task with clinical precision. Despite the comeback story that had been built against them, there was no evidence of jitters, and the only bad news was a late yellow card, which meant Partey would miss the first leg against PSG.
Arsenal had started well and could have started magnificently. Saka fired one past Courtois and saw another deflected before squandering a golden opportunity to make this an even more pleasant night. After 12 minutes, François Letexier watched Raúl Asencio pull down Mikel Merino in slow motion on the VAR screen. Saka clipped the penalty too low and too softly, allowing Courtois to reach up with his right hand to palm it away as the stadium erupted.
If that felt like the spark Madrid needed, the sense of futility that pervaded Arsenal, it was shortly replaced by another. Or so it appeared when Letexier assessed a penalty for a tug on Kylian Mbappé. On the other hand, Rice maintained his innocence, and after a five-minute search, the referee agreed.
Relief reinforced the plan. Arteta’s squad kept the speed steady, slowing down when necessary and occasionally taking a break. He had mentioned the importance of frustrating Madrid and using that anticipation against them, which fairly accurately described what was going on. David Raya was booked for time-wasting but was not called upon to make a save in the opening half. Courtois had made three, the last being a sharp stop by Rice.
Madrid lacked structure and ideas, with a Lucas Vázquez cross that curved through, serving as the best they could provide and demonstrating their limits. They also lacked the necessary energy to cause the desired mayhem. There was a lethargy to them, little brightness.
Rice had to halt Jude Bellingham, as he had throughout the match, and Mbappé headed over, but Arsenal were so in control that oles were soon accompanying their advances. That may not have been a good plan, considering Madrid immediately robbed and fled, but the break ended quietly enough with their first shot on goal.
Raya successfully saved Vinícius Júnior’s shot, and Arsenal quickly seized the lead. Rice nodded on the goalkeeper’s long ball. Saka entered and approached Ødegaard, who took his time and made a wise decision. Merino was the next guy introduced to the move, sneaking a clever ball through the opening. Saka was drinking it coolly and sweetly over Courtois.
This was not how visitors are supposed to act here; what followed was a goal gifted from nowhere when William Saliba lost control while looking away. When Vinícius hammered the ball into an empty net, Madrid felt a surge of hope, as if it was the beginning of something even more ludicrous.
On the other hand, Arsenal was not going to let that happen: not now, not ever, Martinelli concluded, putting the concluding line to a story they will tell for a long time.
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