'I wanted to slap him!' - Mikel Arteta reveals fury at Bukayo Saka's 'bold' penalty miss against Real Madrid as Arsenal star admits he will learn from mistake

The match at the Santiago Bernabéu began with high intensity, and Arsenal had a golden opportunity to settle nerves when they were awarded a penalty in the 13th minute. Saka, usually dependable from the spot, opted for a Panenka-style chip, but Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois remained composed and comfortably dealt with it.

Despite the early miss, Arsenal went on to secure a 2-1 win on the night, with Saka later redeeming himself by scoring from open play. Thus, the North London side completed a stunning 5-1 aggregate triumph over the 15-time European champions and booked a place in the semi-finals for just the third time in the club’s history.

Asked later how he reacted to the miss, Arteta responded with a wry smile.

“I didn’t want to die, but maybe I wanted to slap him," he joked. "He made that decision, he was bold enough to do it, and he missed. I was more concerned about the emotional part. What it could do for us. The personality he showed at his age, in the first time he played in this stadium, [is] incredible.”

The spotlight inevitably returned to Saka, whose night encapsulated both risk and redemption. His daring attempt from the spot could have derailed the team, but instead, it served as a footnote in a performance that saw him rise to the occasion.

"It can happen. I tried something, but it didn't work," he said. "I was confident I was going to score tonight. I learn in every moment. Tonight, I am more focused on enjoying the win, and then I will review it properly."

The result marks a significant milestone in Arsenal’s European journey. Having previously reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2006 and 2009, the Gunners now return to the final four for the first time in over a decade. They will now meet Paris Saint-Germain, whom they defeated 2-0 in the group stages at the Emirates earlier this season. The first leg will be held in North London on April 29, with the second leg in Paris scheduled for May 7. The winner will earn the right to play in the Champions League final in Munich on May 31.