Morning all.
Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League table, which bearing in mind so much has gone against us this season, it’s quite remarkable. More remarkable is reaching the Champions League quarter-final, as well as the way we’ve done it. The players have played really well and considering the clubs in this competition, progressing from the league has been achieved quite easily, sometimes in style and with swagger.
Our quarterfinal first leg is finally here as we take on Real Madrid at The Emirates. As Mikel Arteta said pre-game, his players need to play the game and not the occasion.
This time last year we fell to Bayern Munich in what was a closely contested two-legged affair. I still feel we missed an opportunity back then, just as the officials missed a penalty decision when Bukayo Saka was fouled inside the box. Mind you, we got away with one too during the tie when Gabriel handled the ball. All irrelevant now of course but after last seasons disappointment, I’m sure the players and manager will be more determined this time around.
Real Madrid’s manager Carlo Ancelotti has a squad deep in talent and quality. From Courtois in goal through to M’bappe up front and those in between, they are all very good players. Should Arsenal fear this team? Absobloodylutely not!!
They’re a dangerous team, a difficult team to beat I know but they are beatable. Liverpool, AC Milan and Lille proved that in this competition and more recently, Valencia in the league. Real were not good enough against Valencia was the general opinion from both players and media with Bellingham saying they’ll have to be better tonight.
Real’s journey through to the knockout stages came via the playoffs when the defeated Man City 6-3 over the two legs. Come on, City were dreadful in both games. Lol
But for a strange penalty situation, which Courtois had to point out, we’d probably be lining up against Atletico instead of Real tonight. Real won the possession battle at Atlético’s Riyadh Air Metropolitano but it was the home team who created more goal scoring opportunities with 17, almost double Real’s tally. The home side scored in the first minute and that’s how the game ended after added time.
Atletico are renowned for being organised in defence, something we have to be tonight. Tight in defence and midfield and if and when the chances come, take them.
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:
Ancelotti’s class of 2025 like to adopt a hybrid 4-4-2. Out of possession they are more compact than in previous years, usually tucking Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo infield to form a narrow midfield quartet. Defending in a mid-block rather than pressing high, forwards Vinicius Jnr and Kylian Mbappe are then charged with the task of screening the passing lanes.
On the ball, Madrid are brilliant at springing into life in a fluid, razor-sharp 4-2-1-3. Bellingham drifts around as a free No.10, behind a frighteningly quick attack that is good enough to hurt you in a multitude of ways. We are used to seeing Kylian Mbappe dazzle from the left wing, but under Ancelotti he has developed into a fearsome centre forward, still at his most dangerous cutting in from the left, with each passing week the Frenchman looks increasingly comfortable down the middle.
At the right times they keep possession for sustained periods, but they can also sit off and soak up pressure before striking on the break. In this first leg I would expect them to adopt that counter-attacking style, and having scored four times in the competition from fast breaks, it will suit them,
Keeping clean sheets has been problematic for the 15-time winners in this year’s competition, registering just one shutout in their 12 matches. Injuries to key defensive personnel have left them vulnerable, with players like Vasquez, Federico Valverde and Tchouameni deputising out of position within the back four. In half of their Champions League games in 2024/25, Madrid have also fallen behind to the opening goal, so a fast start tonight could reap rewards.
Real Madrid injuries:
According to reports, neither Dani Ceballos or Ferland Mendy are available tonight, Aurelien Tchouameni definitely isn’t as he’s suspended.
Our own injury list is long, it has been for a while now but it was made worse, or longer, losing both Gabriel and Calafiori. Kiwior did well at the weekend but Real pose a greater threat than Everton.
I think we can assume Saka will start tonight and as long as both are fit, my hunch is White and Timber will start too. Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Martinelli and Merino are likely to be in the starting eleven in my opinion, as well as Saliba, Kiwior and Raya. As said, it’s only my hunch.
One thing we certainly be tonight is smart and disciplined. The level of officiating should be better than we’re used to seeing in the Premier League but that’s not to say the powers that be don’t want to see a Real Madrid v Barcelona final. In the 6 Champions League matches tonight’s referee Irfan Peljto has officiated this season, he’s awarded 5 penalties.
At these stages, you need your home stadium to create a very, very special atmosphere to generate momentum. So, let’s go. I encourage everybody to go there tomorrow to play the game with us. Not to be there watching it but to play the game with us. I encourage them to come very early to the warm-up, and create those nights that we haven’t lived many of at Emirates Stadium, so that’s an opportunity again. When we have built history, we have to build moments, and a moment is being built with our people.
We have to create that energy, that belief, that enthusiasm to play every single action there, because the bonus, the confidence that that gives you, there is nothing else that we can replicate that I can tell the players constantly to maintain that throughout the 95 minutes that the game is going to be played.
That’s some rally call from Mikel Arteta but it’s understandable. This is a huge night for the club and the players need as much help as they can get. The Arsenal fans can give them that help by making sure The Emirates loud and difficult for Real Madrid. Hostile, that’s the word I’m looking for.
Back in 2006, no one gave Arsenal a chance of beating Real Madrid, but look what happened then.
Catch up in the comments..
Good morning Rico.
The biggest Arsenal game since 17th May 2016.
Both the support and the team need to be up for it tonight. Although Real are used to playing big games in front of hostile crowds the atmosphere may put a bit of doubt in their minds.
100% effort, 100% concentration.
To save you looking it up, Champions League final against Barcelona when we wus robbed!!!
Morning Cicero.
We were robbed in 2006.
Just checking that you were paying attention. 😉
The worst birthday present of my life….so far.
Ha ha, I remember the occasion very well.
Jens sent off, Eboue won the free kick for our goal, Pires off for Almunia which allegedly made him decide to leave, Almunia was excellent to begin with but……
We woz robbed!
A great chance, this evening, for Martin Odegaard to show Real manager Carlo Ancelloti just what he missed when he all but ignored the sixteen year old kid Real had just signed.
Odegaard was supposed to play for the B team, but the powers that be decided he would train part time with the first team and for the rest of the time with the B team for who he would play. Since he did not train fulltime with either he could not force his way into either so he languished on the bench. Ancelloti wrote in his book “I don’t care if he comes in or not because he’s not going to play for me now”. “He could go on to be the best player in the world after I am gone, but I’m not interested in the signing because it isn’t of importance to my job”.
Martin moved on with a series of loans before joining Arsenal.
I read that about Odegaard this morning too. Shocking way to treat a player, even worse to write about it afterwards.
Like you say, let’s hope revenge proves to very sweet for our captain.
Team to play Real Madrid: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Merino.
Subs: Neto, Setford, Tierney, White, Zinchenko, Trossard, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Nwaneri.
H T. 0 – 0. Not much else to say.
35 th and 38th minutes showed why we need a natural predator striker
We’ve been brilliant for the most of it. Just lack the final touch in front of goal. Just got to be careful when they break..
I don’t trust this referee, he’s too smiley smiley with the Madrid players and off-hand to ours…
and the penalty shout , anyone remember Inter’s one against us
Our passing has to be spot on because the Madrid attackers are like greyhounds and will make us pay for any misplaced passes.
Oh my days! What a superb free kick.
He’s on a roll 😀😀
This is just incredible…
Imo, that was the best performance of the season.
Just brilliant..
Quite unbelievable, I don’t know what Arteta said to them at half-time but he should bottle it…
yes!!!!!
🙂
Evening happy housers. Last night of a short break in Santa Ponsa. Dreaded watching match as so many holidays have been dampened by watching Arsenal the night before returning, Son getting Holding sent off, Villa loss etc.
Found a sports bar with an Arsenal fan from Virginia, but who worked in London during the Wenger years. Did we celebrate as the goals went in, dancing round table, wow, fantastic strikes! Memorable performance. Son just sent some videos of the celebrations in stadium, a special night!
Two superb free kicks by Declan Rice knocked the stuffing out of Real Madrid, Mbappe, Vinicius and Bellingham looked shell shocked and then Mikel Merino administered the coup de grace. A fantastic evening for Arsenal who ran the legs off a team of super stars. The icing on the cake was a red card for Camavinga one of their most important midfielders.
Goooooooodddd Mooooorrrrnnniiiiiiggg housers
I hope you all had a good sleep after yesterday.
Never ever in my wildest dreams did I dream of such a performance. everyone was good but to say that Rice and MLS were exceptional is an understatement.
Ancellotti said that they were lucky to concede only three . I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
Can we play Real every week instead of the Evertons, West hams etc??
Morning guys.
What a night. What a performance.
New post up by the way..
it was a perfect performance from everyone. But while everyone is raving about Rice we must not forget the defensive department made of Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, MLS and Partey.
Partey dictated the tempo and asserted himself on the flow of the game. He was very intelligent with positioning and his distribution. Saliba was flawless in his decision making and composure on the ball. If RM want him it should not be less than 250M. Timber keeps standing out game after game. he is very consistent and sharp. Kiwior was very alert, physically commanding and very composed on the ball. he read game with precision, making key interceptions, and staying one step ahead in every duel. And lastly MLS was simply a beast. Even when Tierney came on for Rice he was very commanding and played with an understanding of the rhythm of the game and every duel he faced, he met it head, with confidence, physicality, and calmness under pressure.