Arsenal pulled off a monumental upset on Wednesday night, defeating European giants Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu in a thrilling UEFA Champions League knockout fixture.
Entering the match as clear underdogs, the North London side showcased resilience and tactical discipline, capped off by a stoppage-time winner from Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli that left Madrid fans in disbelief.
The first half ended without goals, but the tempo shifted dramatically after the break. Arsenal took the lead in the 65th minute when Bukayo Saka found the net following a clever assist from new signing Mikel Merino.
The strike briefly silenced the Spanish crowd and injected hope into the travelling Gunners faithful.
However, Madrid replied almost instantly. Just two minutes later, Vinícius Júnior levelled the score with a well-placed shot from the left wing, beating David Raya to restore balance at 1-1.
As the clock ticked down, both sides pressed for a winner. Real Madrid looked dangerous in spells, but Arsenal remained composed and waited for their moment.
That moment arrived in the third minute of added time, when Martinelli finished off a swift counter-attack set up by Merino, sending Arsenal into a frenzy and sealing one of their most iconic European victories.
The result gives Mikel Arteta’s men a valuable first-leg advantage and brings them one step closer to a potential semifinal berth their first in over ten years.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are left to regroup after an unexpected home defeat that has raised serious questions about their defensive solidity.