Arsenal can go all the way and lift their first Champions League crown after embarrassing Real Madrid over two legs.
That’s the view of Bukayo Saka, as well as talkSPORT hosts Jason Cundy and Jamie O’Hara, who were left in awe of the Gunners following their 5-1 aggregate win over the 15-time European champions.
Mikel Arteta’s men eased to a 3-0 quarter-final first leg victory on home soil last week, with many Gooners – and pundits – expecting a second leg onslaught from Los Blancos.
But the north Londoners restricted them to scraps yet again at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night as they won 2-1 thanks to second half goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli either side of Vinicius Jr’s equaliser.
It’s now three victories for Arsenal over Madrid in their four official encounters, with the Premier League side being the first club in history to win their opening two games at the Bernabeu.
They are also the first English team to win away at Real twice, having done so in last-16 of the 2005/06 season thanks to Thierry Henry‘s solo stunner.
Arsenal, who also missed a first-half penalty through Saka, have now eliminated the Champions League holders on two occasions, having previously dispatched AC Milan in the 2007/08 campaign.
But for Arteta, the most important thing is his side sealing their place in the last-four of the Europe’s premier competition for the first time in 16 years.
A battle with Paris Saint-Germain later this month awaits where the winner will face either Barcelona or Inter Milan in the final in Germany.
And for ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder O’Hara, he has begrudgingly admitted that the Gunners have the quality to lift the famous trophy.
Discussing Arsenal’s epic victory over Real on The Sports Bar, he said: “I tell you what, Real Madrid were terrible.
“But Arsenal were absolutely superb over the two legs, the best team goes through.
“We sit here and we wanted to see a special night in the Champions League with Madrid, they’ve given us many [memories] over the years.
“But no, not this Arsenal team, too good defensively, too good on the counter-attack.
“Team performance, this is not an Arsenal team of old, they are ready to win this Champions League. What a performance.”
Former Chelsea defender Cundy agreed with his colleagues view, as he stated: “I have to say, taking my Chelsea hat off and it’s difficult because I don’t want them to win it.
“But you have to also be professional and say they were sensational over both legs.
“And I don’t think they can quite believe at how easy it was over the two legs.
“It was a very odd performance from Real Madrid, they didn’t have answer to what Arsenal had, they were too defensively solid.”
Cundy added: “They dealt with them, [they were] physically too good, tactically too good.
“All over the pitch, every player was 10/10 over two legs. Real Madrid are a shadow [of their former selves].
“I don’t know what I’ve just watched there, [but] they [Arsenal] are ready – I’ve seen my team win it twice.
“They’re ready to win the Champions League, they’re ready to lift this trophy, they are, and they’re dangerous.”
Goalscorer Saka told TNT Sports after the match how his side now have the belief they can beat anyone in Europe – before backing Arsenal to triumph in the final at the Allianz Arena on May 31.
The English winger remarked: “We showed that we can play in Europe and beat one of the best teams in the world, home and away. Very proud of this team.
“Tonight was a big statement and I am so happy for everyone.”
He continued: “We felt comfortable. We are quite good when we get into a low block. It took a lot of running, but we managed to do it.”
And when pressed whether he believes Arsenal have enough quality to win the Champions League, he simply stated: “Yes. I like to believe that.”
Arsenal welcome PSG to the Emirates on April 29 for the first leg – looking to beat them yet again this term after a comfortable 2-0 victory in the league phase.
But they will be without Thomas Partey for the clash in the capital after he triggered a one-match suspension following his late yellow card in Spain.
