Mikel Arteta has revealed the team talk he gave to his Arsenal players which inspired their historic Champions League victory over Real Madrid. The north Londoners scored three second-half goals to earn a brilliant win over their Spanish rivals and take a huge step towards European glory.
Arsenal created plenty of chances in the first half without breaking the deadlock as Real Madrid struggled to gain control of the match. The elusive opener finally came after the interval, with Declan Rice bending an outstanding free-kick around the wall and into the back of the net.
The England midfielder doubled his tally from a similar position just 13 minutes later, finding the top corner with an even better hit. Mikel Merino added a third shortly afterwards to send Real Madrid back to the Bernabeu with their tails between their legs.
In his post-match interview on TNT Sports, Arteta was quizzed on what he told his Arsenal players before they stunned the reigning European champions in the second half.
“To simplify the game,” he replied. “We were doing things very well but we lacked the final connection to find the next pass. We managed in the second half much better.”
Arteta wore a beaming smile as he was asked to sum up his feelings after watching Arsenal take Real Madrid to the cleaners.
“Beautiful, so happy and so proud of the team,” said the Spaniard. “We have the opportunity to make other people happy and proud. I’ve never seen the stadium like this. Before the game they were already singing and already playing the game.
“We talked before, for big European nights you need the big stadiums that create atmosphere and you need individual magic moments and there you go.”
He was also quizzed on Rice’s stunning brace and laughed when he was reminded that the 26-year-old had never scored a free-kick before getting two against Real Madrid.
“That’s the beauty of this sport,” said Arteta. “He’d never scored a free kick. We hadn’t scored a free kick since September 2021. Tonight we’ve scored two in 12 minutes.
“He can do it, how he strikes the ball, how clean. But then you have to execute it at the highest level against the best keeper in the world.”
Arteta went on to sing the praises of Bukayo Saka, who ran Real Madrid ragged before coming off to a standing ovation in the closing stages of the match.
“He was key, again he elevates the level of the team,” he said. “There’s a fear factor every time he’s on the ball. Teams step off him and that creates space. He’s fine, I think it was a kick.
“We need to go there. We know we will have to step up again and we will try to win it. It’s another step in the right direction as a team. We have to make another one and replicate what we’ve done tonight.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk