Granit Xhaka shows true Arsenal colours with one-word message after Real Madrid demolition

has provided the perfect response to 's memorable demolition of Real Madrid after his former club won their quarter-final first leg 3-0.

The Switzerland international, who departed Emirates Stadium for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2023, became a fan favourite in his final season at the club. His contributions from midfield were key to Arsenal challenging for the title in the 2022/23 campaign, although they ultimately came up short to Manchester City.

It was a different story during his first season in Germany, however, with Xhaka helping Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title in the club's history.

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Back in north London, Mikel Arteta has signed Declan Rice and Mikel Merino as his replacements and,

Two outstanding free-kicks from Rice gave Arsenal a big advantage in the tie before Merino, playing as the main striker, guided home a third to leave Real with an almost insurmountable task for the second leg.

However, if any team can complete such a comeback in the Champions League, then it is Real at their fearsome Santiago Bernabeu home, but Arteta and his players are fully aware of that.

"Yeah, well, they were talking about it immediately," . "Great, enjoy it - and now let's prepare Saturday, very well, and then we'll have the time to prepare the next challenge in Madrid. But they are all very excited."

In the meantime, though, Arsenal can enjoy a historic night in north London with it likely former midfielder Xhaka did exactly that.

Via his story - after reposting Arsenal's full-time graphic - Xhaka wrote: "WOOOOOOOOW [flame and collision emoji]."

The 32-year-old will almost certainly be rooting for his old club in the Champions League after Leverkusen were knocked out of the last-16 stage by Bayern Munich. The German giants are currently behind from their first leg of their quarter-final tie with Inter Milan after losing 2-1 at home.

Barcelona, meanwhile, thumped Borussia Dortmund 4-0 on home turf on the same night that