Mikel Arteta hails 'one of the best nights' of his career as Arsenal dump holders Real Madrid out of the Champions League with dominant performance over two legs

After establishing a 3-0 cushion from the first leg at the Emirates, Arsenal arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday with confidence but knew the tie was far from over against the record European champions. Despite the early drama and a Bukayo Saka penalty miss, the Premier League side emerged victorious again, sealing a 2-1 win, thanks to goals from the England winger and Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal now stand as the only Premier League club remaining in this year’s Champions League, with all other English sides having been eliminated in earlier rounds. Their path to the final, however, is anything but straightforward. Next up for the north Londoners is a semi-final showdown against Paris Saint-Germain, managed by Luis Enrique. While Arsenal triumphed 2-0 against the French champions in the group stage at the Emirates, PSG have evolved since that encounter and pose a renewed threat.

After the final whistle, Arteta struggled to hide his emotions. Speaking on TNT Sports, he reflected on the magnitude of the win: "One of the best nights in my football career. We played against a team with the biggest history. It has been an inspiration for all of us on this competition. To be able to win the tie in the manner we have done, I think we have to be very proud of ourselves. It is very difficult. After two or three minutes, you realise anything can happen in this stadium. Fortunately, a lot of things went for us. Overall, we did what we had to do to win the game."

Despite the heavy defeat and growing pressure over his future, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti extended a gracious post-match message to Arteta.

“(Ancelotti was) very affectionate with me and told me I hope we win. And he wished me the best of luck," he revealed.

With the dream of European glory now within touching distance, Arsenal will hope their momentum - and the belief Arteta has instilled - can carry them all the way. The first leg of the semi-final against PSG will take place in London on April 29, allowing Arsenal to build another early advantage on home turf. The decisive second leg will be held in Paris on May 7, where a ticket to the final will be on the line.