Arsenal stays calm to reach Champions League semis after beating Real Madrid

MADRID, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Arsenal qualified for the semifinals of the Champions League on Wednesday, after a 2-1 win against Real Madrid that saw the defending champion crash out of the competition 5-1 on aggregate.

Arsenal could have secured a more significant victory if Bukayo Saka had converted an early penalty, but the England international elected to dink the ball softly, allowing Thibaut Courtois to make an easy save.

Despite the penalty miss Arsenal gave an assured performance, controlling the ball against a Real Madrid side that lacked coordination in midfield and defense, while Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard controlled midfield.

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was lucky to escape punishment after appearing to step on the stomach of Myles Lewis-Skelly, before Saka gave Arsenal a well-deserved lead after 65 minutes with a smart finish over Courtois.

That looked to have killed off the tie, but a bad error from William Saliba gifted Vinicius Jr. an equalizer just two minutes later.

Arsenal showed a lot of maturity in the closing minutes to ensure that Real Madrid, pushed on by a crowd used to heroic comebacks, was not able to get back into the game, and Gabriel Martinelli scored a second for Arsenal in injury time after a pass from Mikel Merino.

Madrid's night was made even worse with Kylian Mbappe leaving the pitch with an apparent injury which means he is doubtful for the Copa del Rey final on April 26. ■