Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta faced media following their 5-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. He revealed the reason why his team was so dominant on goals against the champion side. Arteta reveals that he spoke to Pep Guardiola before this fixture and the City’s manager advised him ahead of the game which helped him a lot.

The Gunners stunned the 15-time European champions with a display of tactical brilliance, and Arteta was quick to reveal the influence behind their dominance, a phone call with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

“If I’m here, it’s thanks to Pep Guardiola. I called him this morning. I will always be grateful to him,” Arteta said after the match, acknowledging his mentor’s role in preparing for the high-stakes clash.

The Spaniard, who worked as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City before taking charge at Arsenal, praised his players for executing the game plan to perfection but credited Guardiola for offering key insights that helped unlock Madrid’s defence.

Arteta’s tactical masterclass saw Arsenal control both legs of the tie, outplaying Carlo Ancelotti’s men with intensity and precision. With this result, the North London side has now booked a spot in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009.