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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said he spoke with Pep Guardiola ahead of the Gunners' 3-0 victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
It was a grand occasion at the Emirates, with Arteta's side responding to a euphoric atmosphere as the 15-time Champions League winners visited north London. Arsenal were without star defender Gabriel and a recognised centre-forward, yet they produced one of their all-time great European displays to leave them on the brink of the semi-finals.
The Gunners' collective juggernaut overwhelmed and limited Los Blancos' majestic individualism, although Declan Rice's free-kick brilliance brought the tie to life. The midfielder beat Thibaut Courtois twice with outstanding dead-ball efforts before Mikel Merino capped off Arsenal's memorable night with a sweeping finish 15 minutes from time.
This may well have been Arteta's masterpiece, and although the Spaniard has proven to be far more than a mere Guardiola disciple the Spaniard said he learned plenty from the Manchester City boss in a conversation they had before the game.
Mikel Arteta reveals Pep Guardiola conversation before Real Madrid win
"We [Arteta and Guardiola] talked coming into this," Arteta told reporters (via City_Xtra) post-match. "I wanted to talk to him. He's someone who admires the good things we've done, and it's important to learn from the best, learn from people who have that experience."
There are few managers better equipped to educate Arteta on facing Real Madrid on big European nights. He's done so in the latter stages of the Champions League at the three clubs he's managed. Guardiola's Barcelona beat Jose Mourinho's Madrid in the 2010/11 semi-finals, but his record since is spottier.
The biggest "f*ck up" of Guardiola's career led to a chastening defeat in the 2013/14 semi-finals during his first season at Bayern Munich, and his Manchester City side succumbed to Madrid's voodoo magic in the 2021/22 campaign before they wiped the floor with Carlo Ancelotti's side the following season.
"He's a very intelligent person, and I've had the good fortune to work with someone like that who has been able to help me much," Arteta added on Guardiola, with whom he still boasts a strong relationship.
Arteta's Arsenal exposed Madrid's tactical shortcomings with a coming-of-age performance on Tuesday night. Overloads in midfield allowed the hosts to bypass the visitors' passive defensive structure with ease, and Courtois was forced into multiple good saves before he was eventually breached by Rice's destructive right boot.
The Gunners are halfway there, but Arteta should've also learned from Guardiola that Madrid are never dead in this competition. Their 3-0 lead is sizeable, but Los Blancos are known for working a miracle or two at the Santiago Bernabeu.