Update: Pep Guardiola and Man City role in Arsenal’s Real Madrid win revealed as Gunners set for huge payday News

Mikel Arteta paid tribute to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after leading Arsenal to a momentous Champions League win over Real Madrid.

Mikel Arteta sought advice from Pep Guardiola hours before leading Arsenal to one of their greatest European results, knocking Real Madrid out of the Champions League at the Bernabeu.

Having stunned Carlo Ancelotti’s defending champions in a 3-0 win last week at the Emirates, Arsenal were heavy favourites heading into the Champions League quarter-final second leg – but Real’s history of unlikely comebacks meant the tie was still far from over.

Madrid knocked City out in a convincing play-off round display which included a late comeback at the Etihad Stadium, but they were awful on Wednesday night and Arsenal thoroughly deserved their 2-1 win.

It was a 5-1 aggregate success that tees up a semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain and unlocks more prize money for Arsenal as they look safe with securing a Champions League place for next season.

And Arteta revealed he called old friend Guardiola ahead of Arsenal’s second leg this week to thank him for his role in shaping his career.

“I called him this morning because I am here thanks to him,” Arteta said. “As a player and a coach he has been an inspiration to me. I had four amazing years with him, and I will always be grateful to him.”

Arteta and Guardiola have kept their relationship somewhat distant as they have been embroiled in title races recently with City and Arsenal, but retain a strong friendship away from the Premier League rivalry – although Arteta annoyed Guardiola earlier this season when claiming he has ‘all the information’ on City’s tactics.

Guardiola challenged Arteta to ‘come down from the clouds’ and be clearer in what he meant, saying: “Next time, Mikel has to be more clear.

“He has to be more clear exactly: what does it mean? He said he was here for four years and: ‘We know exactly what happened here.’ Because it can be related in all the process now with 155 [130] charges; maybe it’s about that.

“He knows information about that maybe … I don’t know, because really, next time, I have to see more clearly exactly what happened.”

And Arteta then sought to calm tensions by saying: “I’ve admired him since I was 10 years old. I respect him profoundly. I’m so grateful for everything he did for me and continues to do for me.

“If someone wants to damage the relationship, that’s not in my hands. The feeling [of affection] is profound. [Guardiola] knows it, the staff know it because I still [speak] with them today, and with the board, the ownership – with everyone.”

Arsenal’s win over Madrid pockets them a further £12.88m in Champions League prize money to take their total performance-related winnings to £68.5m including a £16m participation fee.

They will add a further £15.89m by reaching the final, while all clubs are also entitled to a share of £705m based on European and Worldwide broadcast markets, decided on club and country coefficients for performance over the last ten years.

City earned £26.5m from their disappointing Champions League campaign before learning how much they could add from the broadcast pot.

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