Don’t write off Arsenal against Champions League masters Real Madrid | OneFootball

Fifteen-times winners will provide the ultimate test but Gunners should relish quarter-final showdown

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Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

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All night at Emirates Stadium it felt like everyone had one eye on events in Madrid.

Once the full-time whistle had gone, it really was all eyes on Madrid.

Supporters constantly refreshed the newsfeed on their mobile phones as they left the ground, while the Arsenal squad watched the dramatic penalty shootout in the bowels of the stadium.

Arsenal saw off PSV to book a quarter-final meeting with Real Madrid

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The reaction to it was mixed, partly because Julian Alvarez cruelly had his penalty ruled out by VAR, but also because of the situation.

When it comes to picking between a showdown against Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid, is there really an obvious opponent a side should be happy to face?

There was, however, also a sense of excitement among Mikel Arteta’s squad once they knew a showdown with Real Madrid in the quarter-finals awaited them.

These are the glamour ties fans and players want - and they do not come any bigger than Real Madrid.

For Arsenal, it brings back memories of their famous win at the Bernabeu in 2006 en route to making the final of the Champions League that year.

A bit like now, the Gunners were hit by injuries then and their patched-up defence included Emmanuel Eboue, Mathieu Flamini and Philippe Senderos.

They did, however, still have Thierry Henry upfront and it was his stunning solo goal at the Bernabeu that won the tie.

Arsenal’s attack right now would give anything for a forward like Henry given the injuries that have hit them this season.

They should, however, have Bukayo Saka back by the time they face Madrid - and that is a huge boost.

Given the title race is now effectively over, Arsenal’s season boils down to two games against Real Madrid. Things do not get more high stakes than that.

It promises to be the ultimate test of Arsenal’s defence, which right now feels like their biggest strength given the issues in attack.

Real Madrid beat Atletico on penalties in the last 16

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The Gunners’ defence has been among the best in the Champions League this season and Wednesday night was the first time they have conceded at home. Rotation played its part in that, with both Jurrien Timber and William Saliba left out of the team.

Ben White was one of those that came into the side as he gets back to full fitness and his return means Arteta could field a back-four that includes him, Gabriel, Saliba and Timber.

Injuries have prevented the quartet from starting together much this season but, when they have, Arsenal have kept four clean sheets in six games and conceded just twice.

They will need to be at their best to stop Madrid, who boast the best attack in the competition thanks to a forward line that includes Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.

Madrid have the ability to blow Arsenal away with that firepower, but they should also give the Gunners chances, too.

Arteta’s side have struggled most this season against teams that defend deep.

Real Madrid, unlike Atletico, won’t do that and Arsenal should at least have the space needed to spark their own attack into life.

The first leg at Emirates Stadium will be key and that feels like the biggest lesson Arsenal must learn from last season, when they were knocked out at this stage.

A 2-2 draw in the first leg at home to Bayern Munich meant they went to Germany on the back foot and Arteta must ensure they take a lead to Madrid.

Doing so would give Arsenal a chance of pulling off a shock against the ultimate closers in this competition. No one navigates knockout football better than Real Madrid.