Arsenal stood up against Madrid's dark arts to win

Spanish giants failed to get at the Gunners psychologically

- MIGUEL DELANEY AT THE BERNABEU

As the game at the Bernabeu got into gear and Real Madrid struggled to open Arsenal up, they tried to get at them in a different way. They tried to get into their heads by getting right in their faces. It was a clear tactic, with Bukayo Saka especially targeted. David Alaba went in on him after four minutes. Jude Bellingham had words for Saka before his missed penalty. Dani Carvajal then tried to goad him after it.

Saka simply rose above it by lifting the ball over Thibaut Courtois for the key goal. That happened, however, because Arsenal stood their ground – and then stood up.

It was perhaps the greatest significance of this tie, beyond Arsenal’s comprehensive victory over two legs. Few would now question their fortitude. No one should be talking about them as a fragile team or one lacking experience. They are going to be a hard and strong test for any team.

They stepped up on the grandest stage of all. That is a direct consequence of how Mikel Arteta has gradually honed the psychology of this team. “The feeling that we have is a reality,” Arteta said. This was why David Raya was talking of being “super convinced”. They weren’t just words. Arteta praised “the manner and the way we did it”.