Arsenal’s season faces a daunting challenge as they prepare to take on Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg. After a convincing 3-0 win in the first leg, the Gunners are favorites to reach the semi-finals. However, their entire season hinges on the outcome of this match.
“We still have six games to play in the Premier League, which are going to be really important, for sure,” said Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager. “But, for now, it’s all about Wednesday.” Arteta’s team selection for the recent match against Brentford, where key players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were left out, showed where his priorities lie.
The stakes are high for Arsenal, who risk ending the season without major silverware for a fifth straight year if they fail to deliver in the Champions League. Despite their progress under Arteta, the Gunners have struggled in the Premier League, with 12 draws and only two wins in their last seven games.
“It’s difficult because obviously there are a lot of reasons why we are with that distance (to Liverpool in the Premier League) and the amount of things that we have to deal with,” Arteta said after the Brentford draw. “Still, we are where we are, but yeah, we want to be higher, that’s for sure.”
A win against Real Madrid would not only propel Arsenal to the semi-finals but also give them a much-needed boost to salvage their season. The Gunners are almost certain to secure a Champions League spot for next season, but slipping below second place in the Premier League would dent their pride and challenge their progress.
As Arsenal travels to Madrid, they will face a tough test against a team that has consistently defied logic in the Champions League. If they succeed, they will join Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona in the semi-finals, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the season.