Emmanuel Petit hailed Arsenal’s change in mentality he spotted during their 3-0 demolition of Real Madrid at the Emirates on Tuesday.
The Gunners legend believes this could be a turning point for Mikel Arteta’s side and said the Champions League quarter-final first leg win made him a proud Gooner.
An injury plagued Arsenal were the underdogs going into the first leg against Real Madrid but they emerged victorious.
It was a triumphant win, putting the world on notice that they are capable of winning the Champions League.
Tuesday night is arguably Arsenal’s greatest win at the Emirates Stadium rivalling their 2-1 win against Barcelona in 2011 thanks to a Jack Wilshere masterclass.
Arsenal had a positive start but nobody expected Declan Rice to curl in a long range free kick against Thibaut Courtois.
And definitely not for a second time to send the Emirates into a thundering roar.
The England midfielder had never scored a direct free-kick in 328 professional matches.
Speaking about Rice’s free-kicks, Petit said on talkSPORT breakfast: “The two strikes were so powerful and technically brilliant.
“I think Courtois is one of the best keepers in the world. I don’t know if there is a keeper who could’ve stopped them.”
Makeshift striker Mikel Merino added the cherry on top with a third goal, curling a low shot around the outstretched reach of Courtois.
Petit alluded to this result being a turning point for Arteta who has increasingly come under pressure from fans who demand a league title.
“Sometimes something in your mind changes, it clicks,” he said. “Look at PSG the last few months.
“Yesterday they felt something, especially in the second half. They thought that after scoring the first goal they were better than Madrid.”
After the match Arteta said: “I was very convinced because I could sense in the preparation that we were really at it, that we had that belief and that trust that we could create Madrid a lot of problems.
“But then it was the theme of the game, make it happen, then you have to make it happen. But you have that mindset and that belief that things can happen and we delivered today.”
Arteta’s side may have to withstand a potential Bernabeu onslaught from Real but it seems like a semi-final tie against PSG or Aston Villa awaits the Gunners.
That would be only the third time Arsenal have reached the Champions League semi-finals.
The two times prior was in 2006 against Villarreal, winning 2-0 on aggregate to progress to the finals and 2009, when they lost 4-1 on aggregate to Manchester United.
