\n<\/p>\n
After helping us into the Champions League semi-final for the second year in a row, Gabriel Martinelli is determined to apply the lessons from last season to help us go one step further this time.<\/p>\n
A goalless draw against Sporting CP in the quarter-final second leg was enough to see us advance to the final four, thanks to our 1-0 success in Lisbon last week. The back-to-back semi-final appearances represent as many as we had achieved in our history before the current run.<\/p>\n
That fills Gabi with pride, and he was swift to pay tribute to our defence for staying watertight in both legs to hand us a trip to Atletico Madrid in two weeks\u2019 time – a side we beat 4-0 in the league phase back in October in north London, and having starred in the Spanish capital last season during our win against Real Madrid, our winger can\u2019t wait to return.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the squad\u2019s mood post-match, he said: \u201cIt feels amazing. We’re really happy with this achievement – everyone is buzzing in the dressing room and we’re really happy. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe did well in the first leg of the quarter-finals and today I think we did quite well. Of course, we could have done better, but that’s football and Sporting is a really good side as well, so they did well. We managed to not concede and we’re through, so we’re really happy and we can’t wait to play against Atletico. <\/p>\n
\u201cI can’t wait to get to the game, it’s going to be another big one. Of course, we’ve played them this season, early in the season. Obviously, it’s going to be a different game. We’re looking forward to playing this game. It’s going to be another battle. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re going to take what we did wrong last season to try to do right this season. We’ll go for it and we can’t wait to play them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The key moment in the tie came in the final minute of the first leg in Lisbon when Gabi picked up the ball on the left flank and drove towards the box before finding Kai Havertz to score what proved to be the tie\u2019s telling moment.<\/p>\n
That brought the Brazilian, who was making his 50th European appearance for us tonight, up to eight goal involvements in the competition this term, with six goals to his name and two assists. He admits that he is enjoying showing his skills on the biggest stage, and is determined to do everything he can to try and crown his time in north London by making history with us.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve been working hard for those moments, to help this team,\u201d he added. \u201cThis is my club, it’s my family. I feel really good here and it means a lot to me. We want to win titles and I’m really happy with the way we’ve been doing things.<\/p>\n
\u201c(The Champions League) is really nice – the game is really open, you have spaces to run into, and we manage the ball well. We find spaces really well and I’ve been enjoying playing in this competition.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Copyright 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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