Joe Cole has handed out huge praise to Arsenal after their magical Champions League win over Real Madrid and also explained why the Gunners already have a big advantage for their semi-final tie with Paris Saint-Germain.
Goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli at the Santiago Bernabeu saw Mikel Arteta's side beat Los Blancos once again, with Vinicius Jnr's strike merely a consolation in the humbling 5-1 aggregate defeat. As a result of their historic triumph, the Gunners will take on PSG over two legs with their season riding on those games.
Regardless of what happens, Arsenal have undoubtedly taken a significant stride forward under Arteta with Cole issuing a glowing verdict on the Gunners and why they should have confidence of reaching the final.
"It's an absolutely brilliant night for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta," he told TNT Sports. "The club is in a fantastic place. The league has gone but their full focus is on this competition. They played PSG before [in the Champions League group phase] so there's no uncertainty there.
"A sticking point for Arsenal is the second leg is in Paris, I think that's massive, especially now the away goals rule has been taken away. I think that's a huge advantage for the team that have that.
"But you can't take anything away from Arsenal tonight, it's such a fantastic night. They were absolutely brilliant... For them to go to Madrid and do that at the Santiago Bernabeu."
As the Chelsea hero mentions, the away goals rule is no longer in the competition and as such conceding at home in a knockout tie is not met with the same fear. In this scenario, playing at home second is no longer considered to be a huge advantage.
The point is further underlined by Barcelona, PSG and Arsenal all advancing to the semi-finals after comprehensive wins on home soil in the first meeting of their respective knockout ties.
The fixture schedule for the Gunners is exactly the same as it was for the Madrid clash - with eight days separating the two games and the first of those to be played at Emirates Stadium before the Parc des Princes is the venue for their second meeting.
