Arsenal staved off Champions League holders Real Madrid's superstars and rich history of unlikely comebacks to snatch a 2-1 victory on Wednesday and reach the semi-finals with a superb 5-1 aggregate triumph. The Gunners' 3-0 quarter-final first leg triumph last week gave them a vital cushion in the Spanish capital as they made the final four for the first time since 2009, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain. Bukayo Saka, who missed a first-half penalty, sent Arsenal ahead and although Vinicius Junior levelled the 15-time winners were never close to making up the deficit. Gabriel Martinelli rubbed salt in their wounds with a stoppage-time winner for Arsenal, who are yet to lift the Champions League trophy. "We knew we were going to suffer but we knew we were going to win," Declan Rice, who netted two stunning free-kicks in the first leg, told TNT Sports. 

"It's such a special night for this club, it's a historic night for this club... we want to win this competition." Los Blancos, far more brittle than when they won a Champions League and La Liga double last season, were convinced they could turn the game around but created too little against Arsenal's tight defence. The Premier League side held their nerve to reach the semi-finals for only the third time in their history. "We lost against a superior Arsenal and we have to accept it," Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois told Movistar.