The night began in frustration for Bukayo Saka. After missing a penalty with a poor effort early in the match, he covered his face with both hands in disappointment. But that same face lit up with joy in the second half. And by the end, Saka was celebrating wildly — even ripping off his shirt in sheer elation. One of the heroes of Arsenal’s win, he later said he didn’t let the penalty miss break his spirit.
Arsenal had already taken a 3-0 lead in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final. They had another golden opportunity early in the second leg. Captain Martin Ødegaard initially stepped up to take the penalty but stepped aside, leaving it to Saka.
Trying to fool Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois, Saka ended up misfiring. His weak shot was easily saved.
But redemption came in the 65th minute. A beautiful team move led to Saka calmly finishing off the opening goal. Arsenal eventually won the match 2-1, and with a 5-1 aggregate score, crushed Real Madrid to book a place in the semi-finals.
After the match, Saka said he didn’t dwell on the penalty miss or lose faith in himself. The 23-year-old winger was simply soaking in the joy of a massive victory.
“These things happen (penalty miss). I tried something, and it didn’t work. But I believed I would score tonight.”
“I’m always learning from every moment. For now, I just want to celebrate and enjoy this win. Later, I’ll reflect on everything (including the penalty).”
Though he didn’t score in the first leg, Saka had an outstanding performance. Across both legs, Arsenal played sensational football to leave the reigning champions stunned. The young star couldn’t hide his excitement over the team’s performance.
“We showed that we can compete in Europe and beat one of the best teams in the world — both at home and away. I’m proud of this team. We’ve sent out a big message tonight, and I’m so happy for everyone.”
Next up for Arsenal is a showdown with PSG in the semi-finals. The French giants have already sealed their domestic league title and are in red-hot form in the Champions League as well. But Saka remains confident.
“They’re playing with a lot of confidence right now. But we’ll be ready — it’s going to be a great match.”
The first leg of the semi-final will be played at Arsenal’s home ground on April 29, followed by the return leg in Paris on May 7.
