Arsenal fans celebrate outside the Clissold Park Tavern as their Gunners heroes triumphed in Madrid

THEY were 500 miles from the Spanish capital – but the refrain of “North London Forever” was almost loud enough to have been heard by their heroes in Madrid.

Supporters had packed the pubs of Islington on Tuesday for a night that will live long in the memory as Arsenal strolled past the 15-times European champions, Real Madrid.

Nobody is likely to forget where they were on the night the Gunners bossed Europe’s elite.

Nerves before the euphoria of Arsenal’s late goal

There were queues to get into some of the pubs with the biggest screens, and groups could even be seen crowded outside trying to get a view.

If you couldn’t be in the Bernabeu, then maybe the next best place was an outdoor screening at the Clissold Park Tavern.

There the congregation gathered before the game with hope that last week’s 3-0 home Champions League win could be protected in the return leg.

Some had to watch through their fingers as each minute ticked by, not least when the “starboy” himself, Bukayo Saka, missed a penalty in the first half.

Fans peek through pub window to see the big match

Social media programmer Matthew France, who has been an Arsenal fan for 20 years, said: “It’s one of those nights where you can’t watch, but you have to watch. You hate every minute when the match is being played but then, when you win, you remember the experience as one you really enjoyed.”

Trainee estate agent Lois Chapman said: “When Saka missed, I was sure things were going to go wrong, I had to go and take a moment, but this Arsenal team is different.

“Declan Rice was the main man, but they all were. Everybody in the office is an Arsenal fan, so maybe they’ll agree we can all be a little late in tomorrow.”

That was the story of the night: worry, fear but growing confidence that the mighty Madrid side could be downed.

Saka made up for his penalty miss by scoring in the second half and, although Real equalised, the beers went splash in the air again when Gabriel Martinelli scored in the final moments to seal it all.

The next challenge will be Paris St Germain, one of the world’s richest clubs, as Arsenal look to reach only their second ever final in the tournament.

Mr France said: “We definitely lost a drop or two, but nights like this aren’t about sitting at home and listening to terrible commentary. This is the closest thing to being there.”

And once that final whistle went, the choir began. Altogether now: “Northhhh Londddon forever…..”