Mikel Arteta, beaming with pride yet with a hint of humour, addressed his team’s triumphant performance at the Bernabeu. After Arsenal’s commanding 5-1 aggregate victory over Real Madrid, the Spaniard quipped about wanting to “slap” an Arsenal star during the match, revealing the tension beneath the surface of their emphatic win.
The Gunners, already buoyant with a 3-0 advantage from the first leg, dispatched Madrid comfortably thanks to the sparkling efforts of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. Despite the resounding victory, the match was not without its breathless moments. Saka, attempting a cheeky panenka, saw his penalty thwarted by the outstretched Courtois—a moment that prompted Arteta’s playful remark post-match.
In a test of nerve and resolve, Saka made amends with a deft finish over Courtois following a sumptuous pass from Mikel Merino, effectively quelling any Madridista hope reignited by Vinicius Junior’s strike after William Saliba’s rare mishap. Martinelli sealed the win in style, darting from the halfway line to score in the dying moments.
Reflecting on his penalty miss, Saka told TNT Sports: “It happens. I took a risk, and it didn’t pay off, but I never doubted I’d get on the scoresheet tonight. I stayed focused, and it happened in the second half. Every moment on the pitch is a learning opportunity, and while I’ll analyse it later, right now, I’m just savouring this victory,” he stated, exuding a maturity beyond his years.
Saka further expressed his pride in the team: “Competing and winning against one of Europe’s elite, both home and away, sends out a massive statement. We maintained our composure, demonstrating our strength in a low block and our ability to absorb pressure. It required a great effort, but we pulled it off,” he concluded jubilantly.
In the post-match press conference, when queried about his reaction to Saka’s miss, Arteta retorted with trademark wit, “I may not have wished to die, but slapping him did cross my mind!” he chuckled. On a more serious note, he added, “The decision lay with him, and I was more concerned about its emotional impact on us as a team rather than the miss itself. In the end, we navigated challenges, such as the VAR drama, quite well.”
With a wry smile and palpable relief, Arteta’s jocular remarks underscored the fortitude and camaraderie within his ranks. Arsenal now march confidently towards what promises to be a thrilling conclusion in Europe.
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