Mikel Arteta reveals he called mentor and Barcelona legend Pep Guardiola before masterminding Arsenal's Champions League win over Real Madrid
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- Arsenal beat Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the Champions League quarters
- Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola had a hugely successful partnership at Man City
- LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Is it fair for Man United or Tottenham to go straight into the Champions League if they win the Europa League?
Mikel Arteta has revealed that he called 'inspiration' Pep Guardiola before his Arsenal side's Champions League quarter-final second leg win over Real Madrid.
After a Declan Rice-inspired 3-0 win at the Emirates, the Gunners traveled to the Spanish capital knowing they already had done foot in the semi-finals for the first time since 2009.
After a dramatic first-half - with Bukayo Saka missing a penalty and a spot-kick for the hosts scrubbed off by VAR - the two sides were inseparable by the break.
However Saka soon atoned for his earlier mistake with a fantastic opener, Vinicius Junior quickly pegging the Gunners back, before a 92nd-minute winner from Gabriel Martinelli made it 5-1 on aggregate to Arsenal.
Despite Arteta rebuilding Arsenal into a title-challenging outfit since taking charge over five years ago, the trip to the Bernabeu was one of the biggest nights of his tenure, and as such he revealed he looked to his idol ahead of the game.
'I called him [Pep Guardiola] this morning [ahead of Real Madrid] because I think that if I'm here it's thanks to him to a great extent,' the Arsenal boss admitted after the game.
'As a player and as a coach he's been an inspiration for me and he's the person that decided to bet on me, to include me as a second coach.
'I lived four amazing years with him [at Man City] and I have to be grateful, I'll always be grateful to him otherwise I wouldn't be here.'
Under Guardiola, Arterta won two Premier League titles, and FA Cup and a Community Shield in a hugely successful partnership.
Since leaving his mentor, though, Arteta has gone from strength to strength, rivaling Guardiola and City in the last two Premier League title races, before seemingly losing out this term to Liverpool.
Now Arsenal will take on Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals, with the French side defeating Aston Villa 5-4 on aggregate.
Naturally, Arteta was brimming with pride for his side's achievement across both legs of the tie, and offered an ominous warning to their upcoming French opposition.
'One of the best nights in my football career,' he revealed after the game.
'We played against a team with the biggest history. It has been an inspiration for all of us on this competition.
'To be able to win the tie in the manner we have done, I think we have to be very proud of ourselves.
He added: 'I think it shows the character of this team, of this club, and it's a night to be very proud of.
'I could feel the team, that we are ready to compete against anybody. And now we have to continue to do that because I think we have some momentum now.'
The north London side will now switch their attentions to the Premier League and a trip to Portman Road and Ipswich on Sunday.
The first leg of the semi-final with PSG will take place on Tuesday April 29, with the Emirates playing host for the first leg where fans will be hoping for a similar showing to what their side served up against Real Madrid.
