The Emirates plays host to a smashing UEFA Champions League first-leg quarter-final clash between Arsenal and reigning champions Real Madrid on Tuesday.
As Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta stated, the upcoming clash at the Emirates against Real Madrid is probably the biggest game this venue has hosted in nearly 20 years. The referencing was the monumental tie in the UEFA Champions League between the two teams back in 2006 when Arsenal went through to the following round.
Meanwhile, Arteta made a lot of changes at the weekend against Everton and rested many of his key stars, which is unlike him in most cases. The Gunners did take a lead in the first half through Leandro Trossard, although a questionable penalty decision that went against him allowed the Toffees to equalise right after the second half began.
With the Premier League title more or less out of their grasp at the moment, the real focus will be the Champions League. Arteta’s much-changed lineup on Saturday showed he does not want to take any risks with his player ahead of the midweek clash, as Arsenal now prepare to host Real Madrid in a high-profile Champions League clash.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid would come into this clash in the hope of getting a good result and taking an advantage back to the Santiago Bernabeu. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s men are not coming into this clash at their best of form, as their loss at home to Valencia at the weekend probably exposed a few of the weaknesses.
In fact, in midweek they played a thrilling Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Real Sociedad, which they narrowly won on aggregate. However, they will want to be at their absolute best when it comes to the Champions League. While on paper they are the favourites to go through to the semi-finals, they will still have to overcome a tough two legs against the Gunners, as Tuesday night will show what is in store.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
There are no fitness issues at Arsenal apart from those who were expected to miss out on this clash. Riccardo Calafiori has been in that boat, and he will not be fit for this clash at the Emirates, which does give Arteta a selection headache to choose his starting central defenders.
Ben White and Jurrien Timber were probably the biggest worries for Arsenal fans following their midweek game against Fulham but shared the minutes against Everton at the weekend. On paper, Timber is best placed to start as the right-back against Real Madrid, but Ben White now gives Arteta the option of using him as a centre-back.
However, the much questioned Jakub Kiwior produced a man-of-the-match display against Everton to stake a claim for a place at the back alongside William Saliba. In terms of the system, Arteta might prefer to use a left-footed centre-back as his main choice, and while the manager mentioned he has already made up his mind, it remains to be seen who starts alongside Saliba.
Beyond that, Arteta is expected to recall a host of his key stars he rested against Everton. That would include Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli alongside Timber. Bukayo Saka is also expected to start after adding some much-needed minutes since returning from a long injury. The winger will start in the front three, and Mikel Merino will continue to lead the line.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti faces some issues with his key stars ahead of this trip to North London. Starting with the goalkeeping position, Thibaut Courtois might be drafted in to start despite his questionable fitness at this point, while second choice Andriy Lunin remains injured. Meanwhile, the Italian manager will also make a section on his main central defenders, as he might prefer to use David Alaba over Raul Acensio.
Antonio Rudiger will be the other centre-back, while Lucas Vazquez and Eduardo Camavinga will start in the full-back roles. In terms of the absentees, Aurelien Tchouameni will miss out with a suspension, while Dani Ceballos and Ferland Mendy are missing through injury.
Hence, Ancelotti will prefer to set up in a 4-4-2 with Luka Modric and Federico Valverde in central midfield, while Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes provide the width. Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe provide the attacking onus from the frontline positions, as the duo will hope to get past an otherwise tight Arsenal defence.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Courtois; Vazquez, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Valverde, Modric, Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe
Key Stats
- Arsenal have won only three of their last eight games across all competitions.
- Arsenal are unbeaten at home in the UEFA Champions League this season.
- Real Madrid have won only two of their last five games in all competitions in under nine minutes.
- Real Madrid have not been knocked out of the quarterfinal stage in the UEFA Champions League since 2003/04.
- Arsenal have held their lead for longer than any other team in the Champions League this season (568 minutes overall), while only Inter Milan (five minutes) have trailed for fewer minutes than the Gunners (65 minutes) in this season’s competition.
Player to Watch
Bukayo Saka
There are plenty of high-profile options to choose from as Arsenal host Real Madrid at the Emirates. However, there is none more important than Saka at this venue, as the Gunners and their fanbase will place all their hopes on this young superstar.
Arteta will be thankful to his medical team that got Saka ready right in time for this clash, and with plenty of minutes under his bag over the week, the winger might be ready to start. It only fits the occasion to have him on the pitch alongside a host of many other high-profile stars, and Saka will hope to come out on top among all of them.
Prediction
Arsenal 2-1 Real Madrid
Real Madrid will certainly come into this tie as favourites to go through to the semi-finals they may have to do the hard work at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, Arsenal are expected to win at the Emirates. Ancelotti has a tremendous attacking setup, although the Gunners’ defence will be difficult to beat despite them missing the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes.
Arsenal have a great record over two seasons on home soil in the Champions League and that may come to their rescue once again in this high-profile clash against Real Madrid. There will be some big question marks about whether they can get past Real Madrid over two legs, although ahead of this clash at the Emirates Arteta’s men are the slight favourites. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2- win for Arteta and his charges.
