In a dramatic moment at the Bernabeu, Bukayo Saka missed an early penalty that could have effectively ended Real Madrid's hopes of a comeback. After Raúl Asencio fouled Mikel Merino in the box, Saka attempted a Panenka-style chip, but Thibaut Courtois easily read and saved the effort.12 The miss could have been costly, reminiscent of Saka's penalty heartbreak in the Euro 2020 final against Italy that led to racial abuse.3

However, Saka showed remarkable mental resilience by not letting the miss affect his performance. He silenced the Bernabeu in the second half with a beautifully executed chip over Courtois following a slick exchange between Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard.45 After scoring, Saka shushed the Madrid crowd in celebration, channeling Arsenal legend Thierry Henry who made a similar gesture at the Bernabeu years earlier.6 His redemption arc was complete when Arsenal secured their historic 5-1 aggregate victory, demonstrating the 22-year-old's ability to overcome setbacks on the biggest stage.

Gabriel Martinelli sealed Arsenal's historic triumph with a dramatic stoppage-time winner, racing from the halfway line in the 93rd minute to calmly slot past Thibaut Courtois and make it 2-1 on the night.12 The Brazilian later revealed it took "the last thing in the tank" to complete the counter-attack, saying he "tried just to go in behind and pray for Merino to see me and play that ball."3

The goal held special significance for Martinelli, who proudly followed in the footsteps of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry by scoring at the Bernabéu.2 After the match, Martinelli expressed his joy: "We are buzzing. It's really good to win these type of games against Madrid here at the Bernabeu... I think this team, this family, we deserve it. It's something that's going to be in our hearts forever."45 The strike represented perfect redemption for Martinelli, who had previously experienced penalty shootout heartbreak in Arsenal's 2023 Europa League exit against Sporting Lisbon.6

Arsenal's comprehensive 5-1 aggregate victory over Real Madrid represented one of the most significant European triumphs in the club's history. After securing a commanding 3-0 lead at the Emirates in the first leg, the Gunners delivered a mature, controlled performance at the Santiago Bernabéu to win 2-1 and eliminate the defending champions.12

The north London side showed remarkable composure throughout both legs, effectively neutralizing Madrid's star-studded attack featuring Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior. Real Madrid never looked capable of mounting their famous "remontada" (comeback), failing to register a shot on target during the first half at the Bernabéu—a rarity for the 15-time European champions at home.23 Arsenal's defensive masterclass, combined with clinical finishing from Saka and Martinelli, ensured their passage to the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2009, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain.45 The victory underscored Mikel Arteta's tactical acumen and the team's evolution into genuine European contenders.