Myles Lewis-Skelly reacts to Antonio Rudiger 'stamp' as Arsenal star has the last laugh | OneFootball

Real Madrid defender avoided punishment after his foot made contact with the stomach of Gunners left-back

Myles Lewis-Skelly had the last laugh as he reacted to his battle with Antonio Rudiger following Arsenal’s historic win over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Arsenal are the first English team ever to win twice at Madrid’s famous home, having also done so in 2006. They reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009 after triumphing comfortably 5-1 on aggregate, having also stunned the holders 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium last week courtesy of a pair of stunning Declan Rice free-kicks and an effort from Mikel Merino.

Reigning French champions Paris Saint-Germain - one of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s former clubs as a player - now lie in wait in the last four after narrowly holding off an inspired Aston Villa comeback to squeeze through 5-4 on aggregate on Tuesday despite losing the second leg 3-2 at Villa Park, having already lost 2-0 at the Emirates during the early stages of the league phase back in October, with Saka and Kai Havertz on target that night.

The second leg in Madrid certainly was not short on incident, with Saka’s attempt at an early Panenka penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois before an initial spot-kick awarded to the hosts for a Rice foul on Kylian Mbappe - who limped off 15 minutes from time with an ankle injury - was eventually overturned by French referee Francois Letexier after he had been sent to watch replays on the pitchside monitor following a lengthy review by VAR official Jerome Brisard.

A pulsating and feisty encounter was littered with a number of other notable incidents, including shortly before the hour mark when Lewis-Skelly was left writhing in pain after a tussle with Madrid defender Rudiger, whose foot then connected with the Arsenal teenager’s stomach after he had hit the floor.

Lewis-Skelly looked incredulous that the former Chelsea centre-back escaped that incident with no further punishment, but had the last laugh on social media after the game.

Taking to Instagram, the left-back posted a series of images from the match at the Bernabeu, including one of the exact moment Rudiger’s foot made contact with him while he was on the floor.

That picture was promptly followed by one of Lewis-Skelly sat laughing at the Bernabeu in his Arsenal tracksuit while on a call.

Wednesday night was another huge milestone in the rapidly ascending Arsenal career of academy graduate Lewis-Skelly, who has enjoyed a phenomenal breakthrough campaign in north London and burst onto the England scene.

His latest mature performance against Madrid brought huge praise from Manchester United and England legend Rio Ferdinand, who said in his role as a pundit for TNT Sports: “I’m sorry, is Lewis-Skelly really 18? His date of birth is right, isn’t it? He looks so calm and so cool in and out of possession.

“Before the game he was on a call, just talking and chilling. He is special.”