'We don't have' - Real Madrid star issues Arsenal verdict and explains reason for failed comeback bid

Real Marid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been dissecting his side’s Champions League exit at the hands of Arsenal. Los Blancos went into Wednesday night’s second leg with the Gunners hoping for a miracle comeback, but instead they were dealt a dose of reality.

Goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli ensured a 2-1 Arsenal win and a 5-1 win on aggregate. It was a hugely impressive win from the Gunners, who went into the tie without a recognised striker.

As for Real Madrid, they were favourites heading into the tie, and the defeat has seen them attract criticism aplenty in the Spanish capital. Speaking after the game, Real Madrid stopper Courtois told Marca: “In the end, they're a team that defends well, is well organised, presses well, and it's difficult to find space. We put in a lot of crosses, but this year we don't have Joselu, a natural striker up front. We have to carefully analyse what we can do better. We have a lot of the season still ahead of us. We have La Liga on the line, the Copa (del Rey final) in 10 days, and then the Club World Cup. We thank the fans. Dreaming of a comeback was great, and I hope we can bring them some joy this season."

He added: “Sometimes you have to be self-critical and look at everything carefully. Everyone has to do it. I feel like we're a team, but we have to make more team plays and not just individual ones. If they double-mark Vini or Kylian (Mbappe), a two-on-one can work once, but not five times. We still have a good final against Barça, La Liga, and the Club World Cup."

On Arsenal, Courtois said: “Arsenal is a team that defends well, is organized, the wingers are back and the striker.”

Arteta on Arsenal’s big win

Speaking after the game, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was asked if his side could go on and win the Champions League title. He said: “It's certainly another massive step. Where we finished last year and the way we're doing it this year, the teams with their eyes on us and the competition, it's incredible.

“Big credit to [Madrid}, it was my first time as a coach in that dugout and today I realised after three minutes in this stadium, anything is possible. They are specialists of creating such chaos and belief, and it's very difficult to understand really what's going on in the game and have certain certainty about how we controlled it. I think they showed a lot of maturity.”

On his team’s development, he added: “It's been quite different before because it was impossible to be in any round because the club wasn't in the Champions League for seven years. So, that shows you the turnaround, and a lot of great decisions that the club has made and the contribution a lot of people have made to be where we are. It's a team that you can feel today how hungry, how determined and ambitious that is to go. We're going for more, for sure.”

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