Arsenal beat Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate to progress to the Champions League semi-finals where they will play against Paris Saint-Germain. 

The Gunners started the tie off superbly at the Emirates with a 3-0 win after Declan Rice scored two stunning free-kicks before Mikel Merino added a third goal, handing Mikel Arteta’s side a massive advantage over Madrid heading into the second leg.

Ahead of Arsenal’s trip to the Bernabeu on Wednesday night, the Spanish newspapers couldn’t stop talking about a ‘remontada’, translated in English as ‘comeback’, as Real Madrid looked for a historic turnaround in front of their home fans.

However, they didn’t get a ‘remontada’, they instead saw a ‘actuación madura’ – a mature performance from an Arsenal team that did not look for one second like they were going to allow Madrid a way back into the quarter-final tie.

The second leg ended 2-1 to Arsenal after goals from Bukayo Saka, Vinicius Jr and Gabriel Martinelli, handing Arteta arguably his most famous victory yet as the Gunners’ manager.

Arsenal overcame the statistics against Los Blancos

Over the two quarter-final ties, Real Madrid virtually led Arsenal in every single statistic that you would normally look at to determine a football result.

The Spanish side had a total of 27 shots over the two games compared to Arsenal’s 24; they had 56.5% possession during the tie, and they had an 86% pass accuracy compared to the Gunners who had just 82.5% – yet Arsenal still won.

The stat that jumps out is the 27 shots that Madrid had, yet they only scored one goal in the two games. You could put this down to David Raya‘s performance, but it was more of a success for the Gunners’ defenders as just six of Real Madrid’s 27 shots were on target.

That shows that Arteta’s defenders were gritty enough to get in their way and put pressure on every single attempt on goal that Madrid had, something that can only be motivated by a passionate, and intelligent coach.

Arteta could lead an Arsenal revenge tour

Most Gunners fans will agree that for all the success that the club has had over the years, there is one trophy that they desire more than any, one trophy that has eluded them for decades, and one trophy that they have only been close to winning just once (2006).

They reached the Champions League final against Barcelona, when Arsene Wenger’s side lost 2-1 to Barca at the Stade de France.

Looking at the way that the draw is culminating, Arsenal could well face Barca in the final this year, and maybe, just maybe, Arteta will be able to put away all the club’s Champions League demons, and finally see his side lift the one trophy that has a space waiting for it in the Emirates trophy room.

Click here to see Arsenal’s player ratings for the 2-1 win against Real Madrid on Wednesday night.