“I think Arsenal go through, trust me,” that was the verdict from former Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand after the 3-0 first leg win.
The Gunners’ fanbase would have loved to have been so confident before the match but they had little reason to fear. Throughout the first half in Madrid, it felt like Real were struggling to adapt even in the chaos of their own creating which absorbed the contest.
After ten minutes, Arsenal had a penalty for an off the ball foul on Mikel Merino. Bukayo Saka stepped up and while Ferdinand felt him coming back was ‘the big thing’ that won the Gunners the first leg, his Panenka miss ensured further nerves to come.
Declan Rice bringing down Kylian Mbappe in the area for a soft penalty soon afterwards looked like a familiar script was being written. However a lengthy VAR check came to the rescue and the penalty was chalked off.
The perceived injustice for the home fans did not spark an improved performance by Los Blancos. Instead, the full credit was given to Mikel Arteta’s men with Ferdinand on TNT Sports commentary insisting that it was down to their hard work that the Bernabeu was silenced.
In the second half, almost like it was fate, Saka redeemed himself. A move started by the Englishman was finished superbly by him as the Arsenal fans rejoiced in the Gods.
It was a finish of pure class that the Gunners had missed while he was sidelined with injury. The only wobble came shortly after they were 4-0 up on aggregate.
William Saliba was too casual in possession and Vinicius Jnr nipped in to score and give the home fans a brief glimmer of hope. A lesser Arsenal side may have folded right there and then, but not this one.
Instead they regrouped, stuck to their guns and saw out the job in a highly professional manner. Gabriel Martinelli sealed it with a wonderful counter attack as they embarrassed Real 5-1 on aggregate.
Knocking out Los Blancos has proven to be a good luck charm for many a team on their way to European glory and could that be the same this year? Perhaps it is too early to answer that question but what is clear is that Ferdinand was right to be confident on Arsenal’s behalf. The Gunners proved him right from the first whistle to the last.
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