Real Madrid know the terrain of the Champions League like no different. Arsenal, in the meantime, are determined to carve a path of their very own.
Tuesday’s quarterfinal first leg on the Emirates is a collision of legacy and ambition.
It is the first-ever aggressive assembly between the golf equipment in North London, and Real Madrid arrive with scars from a uncommon home stumble – however a match pedigree that dwarfs Arsenal’s.
Fifteen-time European champions Madrid wanted penalties to flee a feisty round-of-16 tie with crosstown rivals Atletico.
Arsenal, in distinction, bulldozed their well past PSV with a 7-1 first-leg masterclass in Eindhoven, reserving back-to-back quarterfinal berths beneath Mikel Arteta.
This is, with out query, Arteta’s greatest night time as Arsenal boss.
It comes sizzling on the heels of the Arsenal Women’s beautiful comeback win over Madrid in their very own Champions League tie simply weeks in the past.
Now, the lads will attempt to replicate that memorable 3-0 triumph – and keep a proud unbeaten streak of 10 Champions League house video games, eight of them with clear sheets.
But whereas Arsenal have lit up Europe, their Premier League kind has dimmed.
A 1-1 draw with Everton on the weekend noticed them fall additional behind Liverpool within the title race, with Arteta clearly rotating his squad in preparation for Madrid’s go to.
Even with key attacking absences, Arsenal battered PSV in 90 devastating minutes within the Netherlands.
Since then? Just seven objectives in 5 video games – and a rising reliance on Bukayo Saka, who is predicted to begin for the primary time in 2025 after two cautious cameos.
The Gunners will even be buoyed by the returns of Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli.
Makeshift ahead Mikel Merino, regardless of a head gash at Goodison Park, must also characteristic.
Yet Arsenal’s damage checklist stays heavy: Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Magalhães are all sidelined. Riccardo Calafiori and the suspended Raheem Sterling will even sit out.
Madrid have their very own issues.
Aurelien Tchouameni is banned, whereas Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are out long-term. First-choice keeper Thibaut Courtois and left-back Ferland Mendy face late health calls, whereas backup keeper Andriy Lunin is nursing a calf damage, forcing Carlo Ancelotti to area teenager Fran Gonzalez in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Valencia.
Despite Hugo Duro’s Ninety fifth-minute dagger on the Bernabéu, Ancelotti’s males stay composed in Europe. Real haven’t misplaced a Champions League quarterfinal since 2004, successful 12 straight two-legged ties at this stage.
And don’t be fooled by Arsenal’s historic edge: they’ve by no means misplaced to Madrid in Europe – Thierry Henry’s iconic solo strike from 2006 nonetheless rings loud in Gunners folklore – however this can be a totally different Madrid, with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Ceballos all cleared to play after escaping UEFA suspensions.
Madrid have already eradicated 111 totally different golf equipment on this competitors.
If Arsenal grow to be No. 112, their European dream might unravel – and one other trophyless season might loom.
Source: www.dailysabah.com