Football Daily - Champions League Debrief: Impressive Arsenal cruise past Real Madrid

Episode Date: April 17, 2025

Just how impressive was Arsenal’s display against Real Madrid in the Champions League? And can Mikel Arteta’s side go all the way this season?Steve Crossman, commentator Ian Dennis and former Arsenal defender Matt Upson analyse a famous night in the Bernabeu as Arsenal advance to the semi-finals. We hear from Mikel Arteta, as well as Arsenal fan Harry Symeou. And after Newcastle thrashed Crystal Palace 5-0 in the Premier League, The Athletic’s George Caulkin assess where this leaves their hopes of making next season’s Champions League.TIMECODES 02:00 Arsenal’s performance and dominant midfield 04:30 Declan Rice’s “star quality” 10:45 Mikel Arteta on feeling proud of his team and Declan Rice’s performance 19:40 George Caulkin on Newcastle’s 5-0 win over Crystal PalaceCOMMENTARIES ON 5 LIVE/BBC SOUNDS Thursday 17th April EUROPA LEAGUE: Manchester United v Lyon – KO 2000 on 5 live.Saturday 19th April UWCL: Arsenal v Lyon - KO 1230 on 5 Live PREMIER LEAGUE: Everton v Manchester City - KO 1500 PREMIER LEAGUE: Aston Villa v Newcastle Utd - KO 1730Sunday 20th April PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich Town v Arsenal - KO 1400 PREMIER LEAGUE: Leicester City v Liverpool - KO 1630

The Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009. They've won 2-1 at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid to cruise through 5-1 on aggregate. They'll face Paris Saint-Germain in the last four. These are the sounds of the Bernabeu. Ian Dennis, former Arsenal defender, Matt Upson inside the stadium. Ian, you always felt Arsenal would need to play well, even with the 3-0 first leg lead. In the end they did almost everything perfectly. Absolutely, they never bought into the talk of Remontada the comeback and with good reason as they delivered on their intention to win this second leg because Mikhail Arteta said they would be bold, they would be brave and they cruised into the semi-finals for the first time in the Champions League in 16 years.

Declan Rice stole the show of course in the first leg with two stunning strikes. He was the standout performer with a masterful performance in the midfield. They also missed a penalty as well in the first half with Bukai Osaka after 13 minutes. I mean Mbappe did have an early goal disallowed, it was quite rightly was yards offside, but even with that missed penalty you know Arsenal was still the ones creating the greater threat they took the lead after 65 minutes with a terrific little chip with Mikhail Sakha just finishing off an excellent move within two minutes there was a lapse of concentration from Saliba turning into Vinicius jr. who scored from an empty net or into the empty net to offer a glimmer of hope,

but they were never able to build on that, because Arsenal always had that element of control throughout. And in injury time, Martinelli raced away to win the tie on the night 2-1 and to go through 5-1 on aggregate. Matt, look, there were times when the pressure could easily have been really intense after the Saka miss penalty, after the penalty that was given for Killian Mbappe was then disallowed and obviously after Real Madrid finally scored. But it just never happened because Arsenal never let it happen.

No, they didn't. They didn't waver at all at any moment. And there was, you know, not just around those key incidents, but there was probably, you know, good 345 minute patches where Real Madrid were really applying the pressure getting the ball wide loads of one B ones winning corners, putting crosses in, but

it was all kind of. I don't know. It just felt a little bit more hopeful as opposed to well orchestrated from Real Madrid and Arsenal with their back four with how they lock into players in the box. I thought the the to help the full backs out, not allowing the wide players to come inside. If they did, he was shutting that door. Declan Rice was just everywhere. Martin Odegaard as well was equally as good. So you put that all in the mix and you've got a team that's really hard to break down. And that's how it presented. And really, other than the giveaway gold to

notch one goal over the two legs for Real Madrid, that didn't look like scoring. I feel like we absolutely have to talk about Declan Rice before we talk about any other individual. I don't know, Matt. Sometimes when you see a player in a stadium like the Bernabeu against a team like Real Madrid, you realise that maybe sometimes, because we're just used to seeing him do it in the Premier League,

these are the nights when you really realise the world. I mean, I think that's the thing. I think that you realize that maybe sometimes because we're just used to seeing him do it in the Premier League. These are the nights when you really realize just how special a player in world football. Declan Rice is Yeah, because doing it on this

stage elevates you to that people's opinion, then we'll link that to be in world football, not just Premier League football, and he deserves it. the world. He's got the ability to play the world league. He's got the ability to play Premier League football, and he deserves it. You know, he's shown that in international matches played in the top

international games that there are to play in. He's physically just stand out. He can he can run all day in terms of his engine never looks tired plays all the time, and he's got this power about his running where he goes past people. You know, he started to add this little attacking element to his game. He's not bad at a free kick as well.

Steve, I don't know if you've heard. I've heard he's quite good. Yeah, he can take a free kick. And you know, you can put all of that in the midst. And you have a very special player. But the one thing that shines out from what he is, is he's got this humbling attitude and this work ethic that just delivers it game after game after game after game. It's his star qualities, his mentality, the way he

speaks, the way he sees things. I don't think he won't want any of his teammates to do a job that he's not willing to do himself and I think that describes him well and that he is leading towards being eventually I think the real leader, not that he's leading towards being eventually, I think the real leader, not that he isn't already, but you know, captaincy all the way through. I think he's got that kind of stature as a person that is going to grow into those roles in the coming seasons. I'm not sure there's anything he doesn't have Ian. No, I mean, he's starting to add goals as well to his game.

You know, this is the season, seven goals. It's his joint best of scoring season to his game. You know this is the season seven goals it's his joint best of a scoring season of his career. He's probably gonna likely to add to it. I just thought he was absolutely everywhere tonight. He covered every blade of grass. His engine, he just never stops and that for me was highlighted even when we saw him at PSV when they beat PSV 7-1 in the Netherlands and he raced some 60, 70 yards back, covers an amazing amount of ground, never seems to tire, he's just got this desire, this relentless desire and for me I just thought he was the epitome of everything that Arsenal needed to do tonight in terms of their work rate.

He led from the front in that respect. It's game after game as well, then, I mean, he doesn't miss a game, does he? He's not one of those that you think, oh, it's a three-game week, right, we'll rest in the middle. No, he plays, he just churns them out. Look, I don't want to sort of push the discussion almost too far, Matt, by, you know, looking at him and whether or not he's the best in the world in his position. But I kind of think after a night like tonight, you sort of have to mention it, because if you were having that conversation, nobody could really raise an eyebrow if you were

to say it. No, I don't think you would and I think sometimes it takes these kind of games to come away from both these games with man of the match. Tells you something. You know, that's a big signifier that you've got a top player on your hands and it's not the first time he's performed to this level in these type of matches. We see him in the Premier League all the time. And I think that, you know, midfield is, is tricky to say, you know, label

somebody as the best in the world because there's so many different types and ranging styles of midfield players, but for how he plays the game and how Arsenal set up and what they want from their players, he can offer so many different things. He offers a defensive shield. He offers an ability to drive forwards with the ball. He's got the ability to score goals now. I mean, he can cover it all. So wherever you feel you'd slot him into whatever system or whatever league he would be able to adapt and play at this level. I think that's what makes him a special player. When I've spoken to him on international duty and he said, oh, I like being the number six,

for me, he's not been a number six. He's not like a Rogerty type player who just sits there and acts as that defensive shield. He's got so much more to his game, his range of passing, his ability to run with the ball, to break down and to make surges into the penalty area. I see him more as an eight rather than a six. I agree. I think that since he's gone to Arsenal, I mean, don't forget he broke into the team

at West Ham as a centre-back, played under 21 football as a centre-back. So that was his position. And then David Moyes brought him in, put him in that defensive midfield position and he covered so well into fullback areas similar to like what Thomas Partey played tonight and now he's just edged that little bit further forward because he keeps adding things to his game and he's so it's like a sponge he keeps he's so hungry to want the the next thing and want to improve and that's you know in terms of the mentality of who he is and how he's grown as a player that's all down to that that open mind to want to listen and learn and add new things to his game and he's done that in abundance over the past couple of seasons. Let's bring in an Arsenal fan who's inside the Bernabeu, Harry Simu is with us.

Harry how does that feel? Amazing guys amazing I'm not gonna lie to you and pretend that I enjoyed it there were moments where it was a little bit nervy, it was a little bit worrying. That's what happens when you're invested. But an unbelievable night, a historic night, one that will live long in the memory. And the Arsenal away fans have just been magnificent. They're still inside the stadium.

They're in full voice. And just one incredible night, and the celebrations I'm sure will last long into the night here in the Spanish capital. I'm going to ask you such a big question here, Harry. It is a really big question. Arsenal have been in a Champions League final, obviously, in your lifetime.

Arsenal have been in a Champions League semi-final for the last time in 2009. This Arsenal side, they've got a hell of a task coming up in a semi-final, I know that. Do they feel ready to win the Champions League to you? I think they do. I don't want to get ahead of myself. I don't want to get too carried away. It's the emotion of the night talking in part, but I think this Arsenal side are really sound defensively and I think when you've got that in a cup competition, you've always got a great chance.

I thought tonight was a great opportunity to show that they've matured. I think it was a great reminder to those that have been really critical of Michael Arteta over the course of this season for maybe some of the things that have gone wrong in the Premier League. It was a reminder of how far this group and this team and the club as a result has come. So look, I'd say that they're as good as anybody else in this competition and we're saying that without a centre forward and we're talking about that without arguably their best defender of the season in Gabriele in the side. They've got an 18-year-old playing at left back and if they're producing these kind of results and these kind of mature performances with all of those things factored in then I think it's impossible to deny that they're a serious contender for this year's UEFA Champions League.

Right let's hear from the Arsenal manager then. Here's Michele Arteta. I think overall, I think he shows the character of this team, of this club, and he's an eye to be very proud of. Hi, Michele. Congratulations. A great performance from the whole team, because have a word on Declan Rice, another excellent performance from him. Yeah, I can talk to him obviously.

He's been decisive in the tie today in a different way. I think he was immense. His presence, the power that he showed, how I think it was immense his presence the power that he showed how composed he was with or without the ball I think he leave the team in many moments and turn the game in our favor and I think that's why you need players at this level to step up and have big contribution and he certainly is on that well it's certainly another massive step where we finished last year and and the way we've done it this year against the team with the highest honours in the competition. It's incredible. But as well, big credit to them. It was my first time as a coach in that dugout and today I realised after three minutes that in this stadium anything is possible. They are specialists in creating such chaos,

such belief. It's very difficult to understand what's going on in the game and have certain certainty about how we control it. But I think the players showed a lot of maturity." The Commentators' View on the Football Daily. I'm Alistair Bruce Ball. I'm John Murray. And I'm Ian Dennis. And Fridays on the Football Daily means one thing. It's time for the Commentators' View episode. Join us every Friday as we look ahead to the weekend's football action with a few untold stories along the way.

A wasp flew into my mouth while I was talking and I panicked. The commentator's view only on the football daily. Listen on BBC Sounds. This is Five Live Sports. The Champions League with Steve Crossman. Listen on BBC Sounds. The Champions League with Steve Crossman. Listen on BBC Sounds. We've got Arsenal fan Harry Simiou with us from inside the Burnabyu commentary team inside the stadium as well.

Matt Upson and Ian Dennis. Let's turn it straight on to Bukai Osaka. Just out of interest. And remember, you are live on the radio. It doesn't matter that it's past the watershed. What was the reaction within the Arsenal fans when he chipped that penalty? Well, when he chipped the penalty, I think there was a lot of frustration. I mean me me personally I couldn't believe he'd done that. I was furious

I was looking at it as you know I've got an opportunity now to put the tie to bed and finish it off and he's wasted it because he's tried to produce Maybe a moment maybe for himself. I don't want to say that because I don't want to judge maybe what he was thinking at the time, but it does feel like he saw the glory, he saw that moment, the penenka at the Bernabeu. Maybe it got the better of him, but to go and redeem himself the way he did,

again, we talk about character, don't we? It wasn't his best game overall, he wasn't as involved as he normally likes to be, but he goes down the other end and produces a finish like that. And who can question him, who can doubt him? But at the time, you don't want to know what I was saying. Harry, thank you so much for being with us. Go enjoy it. Thanks guys. All the best. Top man, that's Arsenal fan Harry Simu. I think we should on Bukai Osaka as well. I remember seeing a few weeks ago when Vinicius Jr.

missed a penalty for Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid. And it so affected him. You know, you had Jude Bellingham, some of his real high profile teammates, really kind of shouting at me afterwards because he'd lost it. That's the one thing Bukai Osaka didn't do after that strange decision.

He didn't lose it. And in the end, he scored a hugely important goal. Yeah, it didn't seem to affect him or indeed Arsenal. I mean, yes, it was strange. I mean, Matt, I think was just as bewildered as Harry with the way that he executed it. And sometimes as well, when you're in these sort of games, you know, that could easily have given a little bit more

bit of momentum to Real Madrid. The impetus could have gone in their favour, it didn't. Arsenal still had the control and yet he then had the composure in the second half to get on the end of a lovely move and with a chip this time past Courtois to give Arsenal the lead which was a superb finish from Bukai Osaka. So, yeah, full credit to him because it didn't seem to bother him. He continued the way he was playing and fair play to him in that respect. You know, Matt, I was just looking through that 2009 team, the last Arsenal team to get to a Champions League semi-final and kind of comparing it to some of the players that they've got now. But you know, there's some massive names, Sess Fabregas, Gilbert O Silva,

Theo Walcott, Gail Klishi, and picking those players because they play the same position as some of the players we've been talking about in this Arsenal team. I mean, they're at least on a level, most of them, aren't they? Yeah, no, I agree. I agree. I think they're on a big level and it's runs in competitions like this that put names like that solid into the history books, isn't it? You know, as top players, as a great team, as great players. And I think that you need these kind of moments in these matches in order to cement that, you know, doing it in different ways or different competitions. There's something about this Champions League that really does cement you in that elite group of players that really achieve at the top level and I think

that's why players love it so much to be honest and they know how much this competition means. Just to touch on Real Madrid a bit guys. When Vinicius Junior scored the goal, the TV pictures cut to a guy, a Real Madrid fan, who was wearing a t-shirt. And all it said on it was, yes, we can, which makes me think of the Barack Obama presidential campaign. And therefore, there's another president, President Perez,

Ian, who probably might have made a decision about the manager Carlo Ancelotti. Certainly, that's what we've been told was going to happen. Yeah, there's been a lot of talk. We said in commentary even before the first leg that, you know, I think Carlo Ancelotti will be gone by the end of the season. They've got the Copa del Rey final coming up, not this weekend, the weekend after against Barcelona down in down in Seville. But they are currently trailing Barcelona in La Liga.

They're yet to play them for the second time in the league, but they are currently four points adrift of Barcelona. So I don't think their exit from this competition will necessarily accelerate in terms of a decision regarding Ancelotti, but I think that the word is is that this will be his his final season. Worth bearing in mind that he is the most successful manager in the history of Real Madrid, the most successful manager also in the history of the Champions League but also is

their dominance in this competition in recent years. They're failing to reach the semi-final, it's just the third time in 15 seasons. So, you know, for all the talk of a comeback didn't materialise. This is still a big, big deal for them to go out when there was so much hope and expectation that they would be able to turn it around. As the noise in the background is for Mikael Arteta, who's just making his way to do a TV interview down on the side of the pitch and for the Arsenal supporters who are still inside the stadium, they've cottoned on that

he's there and he's being embraced by Orlan Sundriks, it would seem, down below. Well, not many, arguably not any managers, get the better of Carlo Ancelotti so comprehensively twice in a row, Matt. Michele Ateta just did that. Yeah, he did. And you know, I think that a lot of people see this this intense character that he is, but you also have to have a connection with the players in order to get them to listen and to get them to get on board with what your thoughts, what your methods are, what you want from them. And

he appears to have that connection. I mean, Declan Rice spoke really highly of him in his interview after the game and always has done. And I think, you know, he has to take a lot of credit. He's been building this team for a while. I think once you have a group of players for this amount of time, it starts to reflect your personality as a coach and a manager and what you want. And you'd have to say that Arsenal are really resilient. They're tough to beat. They work hard. And like I've said already, the golfing physicality between the two teams.

And I thought that was, that's been pretty clear over the two ties. Arsenal really at it, snapping into tackle, second ball, driving runs, physically looked dominant. I think that's something that they've worked hard on recruiting those types of players and they've now got them and they've got a really good team together. Well done, you two.

I was going to say enjoy a siesta, but I suspect it'll be a survey for. I think you probably expect right. There might be a little one just to unwind before a good night's sleep. That's our team inside the Burnaby. I tell you what, I mean the Burnaby sounds like it's something else. St James' Park can compete with any football stadium. Newcastle, big winners tonight, 5-0 over Crystal Palace. Jacob Murphy, Mark Gay, Owen Gull, Harvey Barnes, Fabian Scherr, Alexander Isaac, all on the score sheet. Massive win

for Newcastle in the context of their season as well. Going of course for Champions League football takes them up to third, the Athletics' George Colkin is inside. St James's George, that was something special for the Newcastle fans. Yes, that was a good one. It must be said. I think plenty of Newcastle fans would have kind of accepted it if post Wembley and, you know, finally winning a domestic trophy after 70 years of waiting and kind of the whole team had gone on holiday and they'd stuck down burn up front and lost every game. But honestly, the way they've responded to that kind of huge emotional

moment has been astonishing. It's everything that Eddie Howarde would have wanted. Obviously he's not been around for the last couple of games for very sad reasons, but yeah, they've just got the wind in their sails and they're kind of ploughing through these games. Really, really impressive stuff against a team which has been in pretty decent form away from home this season. And look, we'll take every opportunity we can to wish Eddie Howe our best. I'm sure everyone will have heard by now that he's been in hospital and he was diagnosed with

pneumonia so absolutely wishing Eddie Howe the best. On Jason Tindall, well look that's two games, two massive victories. It's never easy for an assistant manager as well because you know the assistant manager sometimes their job is to be that that buffer between player and manager. So with all that in mind he's doing very well. Yeah he's done very very well indeed. I mean obviously this is a kind of role he's filled himself at Bournemouth albeit not for very long. The kind of interesting thing talking to him around these matches is how he says that you know albeit that they're very different sort of personas on the touchline Tindall's the fiery one, he's the one who's always in the ear of the fourth official and

you know, having a bit of argy bargy with the opposition dugout and how is the very, very kind of focused one, you know, not free of emotion, but certainly challenge channeling it and keeping it inside. But actually, they're not the same person, obviously. But they know each other so well that they know how the other operates. They know what they want. And so I don't want to say this has been seamless, because of course, they miss somebody who's as good

and as dedicated and hardworking and committed as Eddie Howe. But really, the best tribute you can pay him is the way that the staff and the players have responded to his absence. You know, football, so much of football is about repetition, it's about good habits, about doing the same thing week in week out and it has kind of been, you know, it has been seamless in that sense and very, very impressive and as I say, I think that's the biggest tribute to what Eddie Howe has created at Newcastle.

And Harvey Barnes reintroduction to the starting 11 has been pretty seamless as well. You sort of feel that Anthony Gordon eventually is going to find his way back in because he's Anthony Gordon. But Harvey Barnes George is like sometimes watching him. It reminds me a bit of watching Iain Robyn in the sense of you know what he's going to do but it's blooming hard to stop it. It's a great point I mean it's that Salah thing as well you know he's going to cut inside and shoot and so why is it so difficult to stop? I mean I think Harvey Barnes is a kind of great story you mentioned

Anthony Gordon I think that's a very important point it wasn't too long ago that Harvey Barnes gets sent off and then suspended before Wembley and really it sort of felt like a trap door was opening beneath Newcastle at that point. It's a very emotional club and city. Everybody felt it around. It's like, well, there goes the chances of winning at Wembley and the left side of the team with Lewis Hall at left back had been so impressive this season, been a source of a lot of Newcastle's attacking threat and then suddenly at Wembley it's Tino Livermento who was a right back playing a left back, it's Harvey Barnes in front of him. Barnes arguably I think you could say

was the one player who hadn't quite been touched by Howe's alchemy, hadn't really kicked on but he's come into the team and he's absolutely made the most of his opportunity and that's a really I mean I think that's really important for him it's obviously been really important for the team and I think it's also an important message to Anthony Gordon as well that nobody's place is guaranteed in this Newcastle team and why is that important well as we all know they've gone through transfer windows without strengthening the first team.

So they need to find this competition internally. And so yeah, he's absolutely stood up. It was that, you know, those classic moments tonight, as you said, cuts inside, shoots, scores, and is unstoppable. So simple, but it kind of bamboozled Palace at the same time. George, I'm going to let you go because I know you've still got to finish your own

report. All I would say is I love Eddie Howe's alchemy. So I'd read that anywhere. That's lovely. Thank you very much. Well, he's, you know, I've said consistently, I think he's, I think he's the most important thing to happen in football terms to Newcastle for a generation. He's proved that and then some this season. Yeah, can't wait for him to come back onto the touchline when he's fit, when he's ready and when he's well again. That's the most important thing. He's been a transformational manager for Newcastle and yeah, get well soon. Well said, George. Thank you very much. Cheers.

Great stuff. George Colkin from The Athletic at St James' Park where Newcastle beat Crystal Palace by five goals to nil. They've got a five point cushion by the way on Chelsea in sixth. Remember it's top five for the Champions League. And we can hear now from Newcastle's assistant manager Jason Tindall speaking to Rob Lowe. Jason, what a performance. What impressed you most about your side tonight? That we was able to deliver the intensity that we needed to, to win the game.

I think that was the most important thing. The demand on the players is what it is. They went and delivered a real physical performance against Manchester United on Sunday. We knew we were coming into the game with a day less recovery than Crystal Palace. So we knew we needed to make sure that we recovered right after Man United to be able to go out there and deliver that same level of intensity, aggressiveness, performance. And I felt we delivered that and I felt we was very good on the ball tonight as well.

And up to third now, you certainly put yourself in a commanding position in trying to get the Champions League football for next season? That was the aim. At the start of the season, the aim was to try and finish as high up the table as possible. We've been on a really good run of late to get ourselves in the position, but we know we've got six cup finals remaining and we need to be consistent in our performances, in our... with what we deliver week in week out, day in day out we have to be consistent. We can't step off the gas one bit because we know we'll get punished. Any team in the Premier League will do that to you. We've got some tough games coming up so we just need to stay level-headed,

enjoy the confidence we've got and go and deliver the right performances that get us the results. Just finally, from a human perspective, how difficult has these last few days been? Because Eddie isn't just a colleague to you, he's a friend, you've had over 600 games together in the dugout, so how has it been managing the emotions of that alongside trying to prepare the teams? Of course it's been difficult, but I think the comfort that you get is that you know is in the best possible hands and you know each day that passes is a day closer for him to get back to work

and recover. So that's the comfort that you've got. And on the other hand, you know the importance of preparing the team and doing the day-to-day job that you have to do to be able to deliver results that we desperately want. So, of course it's been a challenge. We've been together for such a long time, but you have to be professional in these moments. Eddie's health is the most important thing and that's being taken care of and hopefully we're getting back very soon. That is the Newcastle assistant manager Jason Tyndall. On Thursday we're switching our attention to the Europa League full commentary of Manchester United against Lyon in the second leg of their quarterfinal. Game starts at 8pm. You can join

Kelly Cates live on 5 Live from 7pm. As always past 15 years, English football has been dominated by Manchester City. Eight Premier League titles, six League Cups, three FA Cups, one Champions League. And they're all free! And more than a hundred charges. Somebody turned up at the Etihad Stadium and effectively served papers. I'm Clive Myrie and this is Football on Trial. The Manchester City Charges. They believe they've got irrefutable evidence.

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