Arteta hails Arsenal fans after ‘magic’ Real Madrid win | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta hailed the Emirates Stadium crowd as a driving force behind Arsenal’s 3–0 demolition of Real Madrid, calling it a “magic night”.

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Mikel Arteta believes the Emirates crowd played a decisive role in inspiring Arsenal to one of the most iconic European victories in the club’s history, as his side swept aside Real Madrid 3–0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

On a night that felt decades in the making, Arteta’s players responded to the pre-match rallying cry with a performance brimming with energy, intensity and composure. But the manager was quick to credit the supporters, whose voice and presence created what he called a “magic night.”

“It’s a beautiful night at the highest stage in the Champions League against the team that has dominated this competition,” he said. “We had an incredible performance in an amazing atmosphere, something I haven’t seen before here, and we created a magic night — two magic moments of Declan individually and a magic moment for the team in general to perform the way we’ve done.”

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In a match where Arsenal’s intensity overpowered the 15-time champions, it was Declan Rice who delivered the most memorable moments. The midfielder, previously goalless from direct free-kicks across his 339-game career, bent in two stunning efforts in the space of 12 minutes to ignite the Emirates and leave Thibaut Courtois grasping at air.

“We haven’t scored a direct free kick since September 2021 and Declan has never scored a free-kick in his career and today in 12 minutes we scored two,” Arteta said. “There is something about the energy, the belief and people striving to achieve the same thing — things happen.

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“The crowd 15–20 minutes before kick-off were already singing and bringing that energy, and I’m a big believer in that. It just brought the team forward, elevated every individual to a different level and it created a very difficult scenario for the opposition.”

Mikel Merino added a composed third to round off a performance that now puts Arsenal on the brink of a first Champions League semi-final since 2009.

Arteta, however, remains focused on what lies ahead.

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“It’s just half-time. We have an incredible match to play now at the Bernabéu and we’re going to have to, again, increase the level and go there prepared again to win it.”

That message — of restraint and focus — will be vital heading into the second leg in Madrid. But for one unforgettable night in North London, Arsenal didn’t just win. They delivered a statement to all the remaining teams in the competition.

The Gunners are no longer just here to make up the numbers.