The Gunners got through PSV Eindhoven quite comfortably. They smashed them 7-1 in the first leg and the tie was all but done there. The Dutch side put up more of a fight at the Emirates and secured a draw, but it wasn’t enough.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, had to battle hard against their local rivals Atletico Madrid. That game went to a penalty shootout, and the Galacticos won it in controversial fashion in the end.
Up next in the Champions League for Arsenal and Real Madrid is a game between each other at the Emirates, and that will be a fascinating watch.
How Arsenal players reacted after finding out about Real Madrid clash
Arsenal knew before kicking a ball against PSV that their opponents in the quarter-final, should they get there, was going to be Real or Atletico Madrid.
The Gunners’ second leg finished in normal time, so all of the players and staff had the time to go back inside and watch the two Spanish clubs battle it out in extra time and then penalties.
Julian Alvarez‘s strike in the shootout was ruled out after VAR spotted that the Argentine had touched the ball twice before it went into the back of the net.
That put Real Madrid in the driving seat, and Antonio Rudiger scored the winning penalty to book a place for his side in the quarter-final.
In the mixed zone after the game, Oleksandr Zinchenko spoke to a few reporters and he was asked if all the players in the dressing room cheered after seeing Real Madrid qualify.
The Ukraine international replied, as per HaytersTV: “How can you cheer? It was mixed feelings, to be honest.
“Atletico have been unlucky with that Julian Alvarez penalty. So, I don’t know, no one said anything. It was mixed emotions. To play against Real or Atletico… they’re both amazing clubs.”
Luka Modric reacts to Real Madrid facing Arsenal
Arsenal and Real Madrid are both huge names in world football, but the two sides have only faced each other on two occasions in history.
That came in the Champions League in 2005/06. Arsenal won the first leg at the Bernabeu and then managed to draw the game at Highbury to go through to the next round.
The hope among Arsenal fans will be to see their side do the same again, but that’s easier said than done as Real Madrid are one of the best teams in the world.
However, the Galacticos know that the Gunners will be a tough team to face – just ask Luka Modric.
The former Tottenham man said after the game: “Arsenal are a very good team and it is going to be another interesting knockout round.”
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