Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid: 'A result that will stand out in rollercoaster campaign'

Arsenal Women needed a special victory to reach the Women's Champions League semi-finals, and they certainly delivered. Their 3-0 win over Real Madrid at home on Wednesday, securing a 3-2 aggregate victory, was arguably the most significant triumph of coach Jonas Eidevall's tenure, solidifying their position among Europe's elite.

Six months ago, when Eidevall took over as interim head coach replacing Jonas Eidevall, Arsenal's season seemed destined for disappointment. But now, they have advanced to the elite stage and are preparing to face eight-time Champions League winners Lyon – coached by former Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro – for a place in the final, showcasing their resilience and ambition.

“It means everything for the club and for the players,” said Eidevall. “They joined Arsenal because they want to go far in tournaments, win trophies, and be on the biggest stage. So it’s important for us. I’m very happy with the result, and we are going into the semi-finals.” Their determination to compete at the highest level has been evident throughout the competition.

On a magical night at the Emirates Stadium, Alessia Russo emerged as the star, scoring twice, with two more goals disallowed for offside. England teammate Chloe Kelly contributed two assists, and Spanish forward Maiona Caldentey joined Russo on the scoresheet as the Gunners scored three goals in 13 minutes in a ruthless second-half display. This marked only the second time in the club's history that they had overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit in the quarter-finals, having previously done so against Torres in 2004, losing 0-2 away before winning 4-1 at home.

Former England captain Steph Houghton stated on BBC Radio 5 Live, "There's no doubt that Arsenal completely dominated Real Madrid. In those 13 minutes, they scored three goals, they were absolutely ruthless, and that's what you have to be at this level. They were outstanding." Fans rose to their feet at the final whistle, singing and waving scarves, as the players did a lap of honour to receive their well-deserved praise, highlighting the electric atmosphere.

The Gunners' performance was near-perfect – a stark contrast to their lackluster showing in the 0-2 defeat in Spain a week prior. They pressed aggressively, tested Real Madrid's defense with Kelly's incisive passes, and could rely on Russo's sharpness in front of goal. Former England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley said on 5 Live coverage: “It’s exhilarating – Jonas Eidevall set up a brilliant game plan, and the Arsenal players executed it well. They had to go for it. They had a lot of chances in the first half and managed to take them in the second half, which is the most important thing. Real Madrid had nothing left.”

Arsenal have enjoyed many successful stories at the Emirates Stadium. But in a season of ups and downs, this was a brilliant high and a result to savor as they qualified for their eighth Champions League semi-final. Eidevall's first win as interim coach came in this competition against Valerenga 4-1 the day after Eidevall's resignation. It seemed a stretch at the time to suggest they were European semi-finalists, but now, having secured a place in the last four, Eidevall admitted it was "probably the clearest" example of their comeback character.

She added: “We have done a lot of great things before, coming back from setbacks and performing well against top teams. But this is definitely the clearest one, where you have an opponent away from home, the game looks like it does, the result is what it is, and then you have to produce a performance and a result like that.” Their ability to overcome adversity has been a defining trait of their campaign.

Russo could have had her first Arsenal hat-trick, but she could be forgiven for any frustration at the final whistle. Two Video Assistant Referee (VAR) interventions meant two of her goals were ruled out for offside, prior to which she had also squandered a one-on-one opportunity against visiting goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez. But the England forward celebrated at the final whistle and said the idea of reaching the last four had “not sunk in yet”.

Russo told BBC Sport: “It was amazing – the result, the fans, playing at the Emirates… it never gets old. When we went to Madrid, we were disappointed, but we knew we had belief and we knew what we needed to do. There was disappointment, but it quickly turned into fire.” The team's collective determination and the support from the fans fueled their comeback.

Her contribution, along with that of teammate Kelly, was crucial in Arsenal's brave fightback, which Houghton said showed Russo's "maturity." She is now joint-top scorer in the Champions League with six goals and has 17 goals in all competitions, her best goalscoring season to date. Houghton added: “She’s had a lot of criticism at the start of the season and was probably doing too much for the team – not being selfish enough as a forward. Her performance (against Real Madrid) showed real maturity. Almost everything she touched went into the back of the net. She scored the goals that have sent Arsenal into the Champions League semi-finals.”