There are big matches, and then there are BIG matches.
On Wednesday evening, Arsenal head to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid for the most important match of the season as 90 minutes separates the Gunners from a spot in their first Champions League semifinals in 16 years.
A week ago, Arsenal stunned the footballing world when they played Real Madrid off the pitch at the Emirates to the tune of 3-0 and secured a crucial lead in the Champions League quarterfinals. It was a result that even the most optimistic of fans only dared to consider, but one thoroughly deserved.
The Gunners rode the emphatic home support to a season-defining win against the reigning CL title holders on the back of two other-worldly Declan Rice free kicks that left the opposition stunned and viewers around the world speechless. From front to back, the Gunners put in as complete performance as they had all season and put to bed any doubt that they belonged among the best of the best.
Now the Gunners step onto one of the most storied grounds in the world with massive stakes on the line. It will be loud. It will be intense. It will be every bit the theater such a tie demands. And, if Arsenal play it right, it will be iconic.
Can Arsenal manage the moment and punch their tickets to the next round?
Here are five talking points ahead of Wednesday’s match:
Know the Enemy
The week between the match saw the reigning CL and La Liga winners play a league match that featured an absolutely horrific tackle by Mbappe that saw him sent off in the first half. Luckily for RM, the potential suspension has no effect on Wednesday, though it does highlight a very real concern, which is the potential for an extra-physical night.
The end of last week’s match saw Madrid commit a few contentious challenges, including one by Eduardo Camavinga that earned a yellow card that will keep him out of the second leg. Jude Bellingham had a few cynical pull backs that could have, and should have, seen him miss Wednesday’s match. And there’s no telling what madman Antonio Rüdiger will do if the match begins to slip away from the hosts. With ascendant Barcelona in pole position in La Liga, Madrid’s season hangs on by a thread, and there’s nothing more dangerous than a team with nothing to lose.
Last Time Out
Declan Rice. That’s the post.
In the second half, Arsenal’s record signing scored two of the most stunning free kicks you’re likely to ever see to beat Thibaut Courtois, whose performance up until those goals was immaculate. The first curved around the wall to sneak past the post, while the second was a rocket to the top corner that would have taken two keepers to keep out. Both are front runner’s for Arsenal’s goal of the season, with the second a strong shout for a Puskas award.
But it would be unfair to simply attribute the result to Rice’s individual brilliance. Defensively, the Gunners overcame the loss of Gabriel Magalhaes to blank the Los Blancos. All-world attacker Kylian Mbappe was kept quiet by Jakub Kiwior and William Saliba, while Jurrien Timber neutralized the pacy threat of Vinicius Jr. Myles Lewis-Skelly once again stepped up like a seasoned veteran, inverting masterfully to aide the midfield, who controlled the middle of the park all match.
The attack was methodical and picked their chances carefully against arguably the world’s best keeper. Bukayo Saka’s dribbling set up both of Rice’s free kicks, while Gabriel Martinelli’s pace stretched the defense. Mikel Merino slotted home the third late on with a controlled finish to the bottom corner, putting in yet another striker performance that makes you wonder if he has been running the longest con in football by playing in the midfield his entire career till now.
The Emirates atmosphere was unlike anything in recent history, and the Gunners put in a performance worthy of the fans’ exceptional energy. It wasn’t just a win – it was an emphatic, marker-laying win.
Injuries & Suspensions
Another week, another potential injury issue. The frustrating theme of the season continued against Brentford when Ben White was ruled out pre-match after taking a knock during training, followed by Thomas Partey “feeling something” before being subbed and Jorginho sustaining a rib injury late in the match that forced him off the pitch for the last ten minutes. He is unlikely to be available, and could potentially miss the rest of the season depending on the severity of the injury.
Luckily, Ben White and Thomas Partey both returned to training on Tuesday morning, which hopefully means both will be available for selection on Wednesday.
OUT: Kai Havertz (hamstring), Gabriel Jesus (ACL), Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Jorginho (ribs), Riccardo Calafiori (knee)
Predicted Lineup
Attack: Martinelli, Merino, Saka
The attacking trio were crucial to the win last week. Gabriel Martinelli’s pace has returned, and Bukayo Saka’s elusive dribbling earned the two free kicks that Declan Rice scored from. Mikel Merino continued to defy expectations as the make-shift striker with a night where he could have scored a hatful of goals if not for some exceptional play from Courtois in RM’s net. Merino’s experience playing in the Bernabeu will be needed if the Gunners want to find success on Wednesday. If Merino is forced into the midfield, Leandro Trossard is the likely starter at the 9.
Midfield: Rice, Partey, Ødegaard
Declan Rice will be eager to run it back against RM on their home turf, while Martin Ødegaard will be returning to the Bernabeu for the first time since leaving five seasons ago, hopefully with a point to prove. Thomas Partey, though, remains the question mark. His performance last week was as controlled from him as we’ve seen all season. If he is available, he starts, but if he isn’t, then Mikel Arteta will likely drop Mikel Merino into the 8 with Rice at the 6.
Defense: Lewis-Skelly, Kiwior, Saliba, Timber
No position group will be under pressure more than the defense. They put in a masterful shift on Wednesday, but Real Madrid’s need to overturn the 3 goal margin means they will be throwing everything they have at Arsenal’s back line. The longer they can keep their composure, the more frustrated and desperate the Madrid attack will get.
Keeper: Raya
Arsenal’s number one has been a rock at the back and handled the first Real Madrid test with flying colors. His dominance in the air will be crucial on corners, and his distribution will need to be on point for transition play.
Home Cooking
Real Madrid will be leaning on their infamously impressive atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. The 73,000+ capacity cathedral will be packed to the gills with supporters ready to make it an uncomfortable night for the Gunners. The retractable roof will be closed to keep as much sound in as possible as Madrid look to overturn the three goal deficit. They want to do what they do best and make it as unbearably hostile as possible for the visitors.
Home supporters in big matches love nothing more than to influence the match, including the officials, and Wednesday will see that ramped up to 11. With every foul to an Arsenal player, the boos will rain down. Every contentious call against Madrid will be met with outcry. And God forbid the ref is given a chance to penalize an Arsenal player in a dangerous position. The Bernabeu black magic is notorious for a reason. Arsenal need to steel themselves for a level of enmity they have yet to experience this season.
Arsenal rose to the occasion and took control of the tie in the first match and have placed the pressure firmly on Real Madrid. For all of the talks of Madrid’s plot armor and their historic ability to overturn deficits in the Champions League this past week, there’s no denying the simple fact that Arsenal have become the epitome of discipline and control under Mikel Arteta. They relish the big matches and give it their all from the first whistle to the last. They live for the chance to stymie and stifle the best of the best. Come Wednesday, they face another chance to prove they belong at this level and, with another solid outing, punch their ticket to the semis.
Glory awaits.
WHO: Arsenal at Real Madrid
WHAT: Champions League Quarterfinals
WHEN: Wednesday, April 16th, 3:00am EST/12:00pm PST/8:00pm GMT
WHERE: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
HOW TO WATCH: Streaming on the Paramount+ app
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