When Arteta Called the Pep Hotline…
Before Mikel Arteta pulled a rabbit out of a hat and sent Real Madrid tumbling out of the Champions League like a hamster off a treadmill, he dialed up a football wizard: Pep Guardiola! It’s like calling Merlin before challenging dragons. Arteta, whose team had already served Madrid a spicy 3-0 empanada at the Emirates, needed to ensure no plot twists from the king of comebacks for Real. And guess what, folks? With Pep’s wisdom and maybe some secret soccer spell, Arsenal danced their way to a 2-1 victory in Madrid’s kitchen, securing a 5-1 aggregate exit sign for the Los Blancos.
In a chat that was probably more dramatic than a soap opera finale, Arteta praised his old boss as the Yoda to his Skywalker in coaching. Arteta gushed, “I’m here thanks to him,” which, translated in footballeze, means Guardiola’s like a universal remote to success, always knowing which button to press. Despite exchanging playful banter and football fisticuffs over tactics earlier in the season, Arteta’s admiration flew higher than a Cristiano Ronaldo header. Just as Pep’s guidance helped carve Arteta’s path, Arsenal’s swerve into the semi-finals also carves out a $12.88m treasure chest to count away their Madrid winnings.
By nuking Madrid, Arsenal’s cash clinking machine has started spitting out prize money like an ATM on overdrive. Imagine enough pound coins to fill an Arsenal stadium pie! With a Champions League jackpot of £68.5m secured, the Gunners are eyeing Paris with the glint of a striker on goal. It’s raining pounds in North London, folks! Meanwhile, over at Man City, Pep is probably baking humble pie after Arsenal tipped the balance.
