Mikel Arteta hails ‘one of the best nights of my career’ after Arsenal topple Real Madrid – and jokes he ‘wanted to SLAP’ Bukayo Saka after Panenka penalty miss

• Arsenal knocked out Real Madrid to reach the Champions League semi-finals 
• The Gunners were brilliant over the two legs and triumphed 5-1 on aggregate
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By ISAAN KHAN

Mikel Arteta lauded a landmark night for Arsenal as they dethroned the kings of Europe to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009.

The Gunners had a 3-0 advantage against Real Madrid from the quarter-final first leg but last night, in front of a raucous Bernabeu crowd, Bukayo Saka had an audacious chipped penalty saved after 13 minutes.

Then, Real were awarded a spot-kick of their own soon after, Kylian Mbappe having fell to the ground under minimal contact from Declan Rice.

The VAR intervened to overturn the decision, and Saka was to overcome his earlier setback by striking in the second half. Vinicius Junior pulled a goal back, before Gabriel Martinelli added a winner in injury time to complete the humiliation of Los Blancos in a statement 5-1 victory on aggregate.

The impressive display sees the north London club now facing Paris Saint-Germain next.

Arteta said: ‘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.

Mikel Arteta hailed a landmark night as Arsenal reached the Champions League semi-finals

Arteta insisted the Gunners should be ‘very proud’ of comfortably knocking out Real Madrid 

He also joked he wanted to slap Bukayo Saka after his attempted Panenka penalty was saved

‘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.’

On Saka’s audacious penalty miss, Arteta said: ‘I would have liked to slap him! But the player has to make the decision, and he was bold enough to do it, and I was more concerned about the emotional part.’

He also hailed the influence of Pep Guardiola, who Arteta was assistant coach under at Manchester City.

He said: ‘I called him (Guardiola) this morning because I am here thanks to him. As a player and a coach he has been an inspiration to me. I had four amazing years with him, and I will always be grateful to him.’

Arteta’s men are the only English side still left in the Champions League. They beat PSG 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the league phase, but Luis Enrique’s French champions are much improved since then.

‘I know the manager (Luis Enrique) really well, but let’s enjoy tonight,’ he added.

‘They’re a different team now and they’re on an incredible run at the moment.’

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Mikel Arteta hails ‘one of the best nights of my career’ after Arsenal topple Real Madrid – and jokes he ‘wanted to SLAP’ Bukayo Saka after Panenka penalty miss

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