SAKA HAS KAYO PUNCH

Winger finishes off Real after pen miss

- JOHN CROSS

THE fabled remontada never arrived. Instead, it was Arsenal who produced one of their greatest European nights.

Mikel Arteta’s men were brave, strong and defiant as they completed the job and marched into their first Champions League semi-final for 16 years.

This was some statement by Arsenal as they overwhelmed mighty Real Madrid at the Emirates last week and then delivered another sensational victory.

Bukayo Saka made up for a shocking missed penalty in the first half by putting Arsenal ahead with an exquisite finish only then for William Saliba to make the one mistake of the night to gift Vinicius Jr an equaliser.

But even then Arsenal held firm, slowed it down and quelled the noise and atmosphere before Gabriel Martinelli delivered the knock-out blow in injury time.

That was down to Arsenal's brilliant defending as well as Real having another off night as the 15-time European champions were reduced to an endless stream of crosses and did not get a shot on target until the 56th minute.