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Bosnich: “Outstanding” Arsenal made Real Madrid “look like boys”
Jaiden Sciberras • April 17th, 2025 3:23 pm
Arsenal have spectacularly progressed to the Champions League semi-finals, eliminating Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate following Thursday morning’s 2-1 victory in Spain.
A heroic 3-0 home victory left the Gunners in a superb position approaching the second leg, with a pair of second-half goals sealing the deal at the Santiago Bernabéu to propel Arsenal to the final four of Europe's premier club competition for the first time since 2009.
Bukayo Saka’s missed penalty early in the contest was enough to concern Arsenal fans, particularly as Madrid was awarded a penalty of their own just 10 minutes later.
However, with VAR intervening to withdraw their spot kick, it was the Gunners who made the most of their lead, burying a fourth and a fifth on aggregate to claim an historical victory against the cup holders.
Former Premier League goalkeeper Mark Bosnich was overly impressed by Arsenal’s quality across both ties, full of belief that the result will go a long way in overcoming the club’s continued Premier League hoodoo.
“Outstanding, absolutely outstanding,” Bosnich told SEN Mornings.
“There will be some Arsenal supporters that will go, 'hang on a minute, the league has faltered', they are 13 points behind (in the Premier League) … I’m talking about the Champions League.
“From a consistency point of view, they have been excellent. They came third in the league phase, they’ve got the second-best defensive record behind Inter Milan.
“What we know Arsenal can do - when they play their very best - especially when (Martin) Ødegaard and (Bukayo) Saka are fit... they did it very well over these two legs.
“There was only one team that was going to go through and that was Arsenal, and it is a wonderful thing for these young players who have been developed under Mikel Arteta, who have missed out on the Premier League.
“To go to that place (the Bernabéu) against the reigning champions and do it like that… the things that that will do for them mentally, I can’t really put into words.”
Bosnich was effusive in his praise for the Gunners who bossed Madrid in both legs.
“They made them look like boys,” he continued.
“That scoreline, three-nil, in my opinion, I thought it flattered Real Madrid a little bit.
“(Thibaut) Courtois made some outstanding saves, they cleared balls off the line, I thought four would have been absolutely fair.”
Despite the phenomenal result, the cup is far from won, with Paris Saint-Germain awaiting the Gunners after knocking out fellow English outfits Aston Villa and Liverpool.
With Liverpool holding a 13-point advantage in the Premier League with just six games to play, Arsenal will put their full attention on their semi-final clash, scheduled to commence in late April.
