Champions League: Arsenal must own the game against Real Madrid

Arsenal face Real Madrid in a defining UCL quarter-final at Emirates. Midfield battles and set-pieces key, with Saka back but Gabriel out.

 

Bukayo Saka has a huge night on his hands, will he be able to give the Gunners something to celebrate? (Photo credit: Opta)

If any game would define Arsenal's season, it is the one on Tuesday at the Emirates against Real Madrid in the quarter-final of the UEFA Champions League.

Liverpool appears to be struggling in the final lap of the title race. Still, everyone believes they will get things over the line with a healthy eleven-point cushion over the Gunners, who could only manage a point at the weekend.

After a convincing first-leg victory over PSV in the round of 16, Arsenal qualified without even switching gears in the second leg, and now they must bring the same energy to the pitch when the reigning champions visit the Emirates on Sunday.

Real Madrid limped to another disappointing defeat at home to Valencia at the weekend, the first time Valencia would earn maximum points at the Santiago Bernabeu, a result which has divided pundits across the game.

The key battle on Tuesday would be in the midfield, where Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, and Martin Ødegaard would have it all to do against the likes of Luka Modric, Federico Valverde, and Jude Bellingham; the neutrals would relish this showdown.

Thibaut Courtois has said the visitors would pay close attention to Arsenal's set-piece threats, and they're working hard in training to ensure they don't sleep off when Arsenal is lifting from dead ball situations.

"We worked on it yesterday," Courtois said in a pre-match news conference on Monday. "We know how we have to try to defend against them. The first thing is not conceding many corners. Then it's about concentration and being active. Sometimes it's about the quality of the opponent. If the ball is delivered perfectly, you can be well positioned, but it's still hard to defend."

Notable absentees for the Gunners are Gabriel Magalhaes, who limped off last week against Fulham, and long-term absentees Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, but the mood has been lifted recently with the return of Bukayo Saka to full fitness.

Real Madrid would be without Aurelien Tchouameni for the first leg of the quarter-final after he copped a yellow card in their round of 16 second-leg encounter, as would the trio of Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal.

Arsenal must do all they can to get in a comfortable position for the second leg; you don't want to go to Real Madrid chasing the tie. If any game would define Arsenal's season, this is it!