Mikel Arteta has described it as “one of the best nights of my career” when reflecting on his sides 2-1 victory against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, winning the tie 5-1 on aggregate and reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2008/09.
Coming into this away leg with a 3-0 advantage, many expected Arsenal to sit extremely deep, allowing Madrid to step onto them and take control of the game. Whilst Arsenal did come with a defensive approach, it was their 4-4-2 midblock that stifled Los Blancos, who had 66% of the ball, only generating 1.50 xG, creating one “big chance” and taking 18 shots in total.
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Arsenal made things really compact in the middle of the pitch, forcing Madrid into wide areas who looked short of ideas, continuously whipping crosses into the box for the Gunners to deal with. Of their 43 crosses attempted, only seven were successful, making it a long night for Real Madrid fans.
This was a game that had the opportunity to turn at any point, the Los Blancos faithfuls ready to get behind their team and energize their “Remontada”, but it was Arteta’s men who completely shut them out, dampening any momentum shifts, looking in complete control of the tie.
Mikel Arteta’s men have been criticised at times this season for playing “boring” football, even being compared to Stoke City back in December for their defensive mindset and set-piece excellence. But it is this side of their game that has prepared them for these big European fixtures, not relying on playing the most beautiful football at all times, but being masters of the dark arts.
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Whether it was Myles Lewis-Skelly drawing fouls in the middle of the park, Martinelli toying with Lucas Vazquez for nearly 30 seconds untouched or even William Saliba just nudging Mbappe into uncomfortable areas, Arsenal managed to keep Madrid under control, not allowing any momentum to spearhead a comeback.
This was an all-round superb performance from the Gunners, defensively stopping one of the best attacking sides in European football, if not by metrics, at least by name. But one man in particular stole the show yet again.
Declan Rice was outstanding yet again, earning back to back man of the match awards against Real Madrid. Whilst this performance didn’t quite have two scorching free kicks from the England midfielder, it was his industry that stood out in the away fixture.
The 26-year-old midfielder had 11 defensive actions in the match, with only Saliba managing more. Rice made three clearances, blocked two shots, made four interceptions and made two tackles in the game. On the ball, he kept things tidy with a 96% passing accuracy, only misplacing one pass in the match of his 26 attempted.
After picking up back to back man of the match awards, Rice could be the driving force for this Arsenal side going into the semi-finals and potentially even the final, where they will play PSG followed by either Inter Milan or Barcelona.
Rice’s combination of duel-winning and progressive carrying qualities could prove decisive in the coming fixtures, especially against PSG and then potentially Barcelona, who perhaps lack the athleticism to deal with those qualities of the Englishman.