Mikel Arteta reveals Pep Guardiola phone call before dumping Real Madrid out of Champions League
16 April 2025, 18:37 | Updated: 17 April 2025, 14:23
Mikel Arteta revealed he was inspired by a phone call with Pep Guardiola ahead of Arsenal's 5-1 Champions League aggregate win over Real Madrid.
The Gunners dumped the holders out of the competition as a stunning 2-1 win at the Bernabeu sealed a famous victory to set up a semi-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain.
Arteta called the victory one of the "best nights of his career" and also revealed he spoke with Guardiola - his former mentor at Manchester City, where he worked as assistant - on the morning of the second leg.
He said: "I called him this morning. Because if I am here, it is thanks to him to a great extent.
"He has been a big inspiration to me. I lived four amazing years with him and I will always be grateful to him. Without him, I wouldn't be here."
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