Mikel Arteta dedicates Arsenal's UEFA Champions League success to Pep Guardiola

Ellis Statham Updated: 17 Apr 25 08:25

A 2-1 win on the night, and a 5-1 victory on aggregate against Real Madrid saw Mikel Arteta's Arsenal cruise into the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain.

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The Gunners have come on leaps and bounds since Arteta's appointment in 2019, reaching the club's first UEFA Champions League semi-final since the 2008/09 campaign.

The semi-final stage was as far as they got that year however, crashing out in a 4-1 aggregate defeat to Manchester United.

They will now face PSG over two legs for a spot in the UEFA Champions League final, set to be held at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.

Arteta was quick to point out the effect that Pep Guardiola has had on his managerial career when questioned during a post-match press conference on if he had talked to any experienced coaches prior to the game.

He said: “I called him (Guardiola) this morning, because I think that if I’m here, it’s thanks to him to a great extent because as a player and a coach he’s been an inspiration for me.

“He’s been the person that decided to bet on me and to include me as a second coach. I’ve lived four amazing years with him and I have to be grateful. I’ll always be grateful to him. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.”

Following the conclusion of his professional playing career in 2016, Arteta was not short of options.

He was reportedly offered the chance to lead the Arsenal academy, join Mauricio Pochettino’s backroom staff at Tottenham Hotspur or join forces with Guardiola at Manchester City.

He opted for the latter of the three choices, becoming an assistant coach at Manchester City on 3rd July 2016.

Arteta would learn and develop under Guardiola for the best part of four campaigns, before taking the next step in his managerial career and joining the Gunners to become the head coach.