Arsenal are almost ready for their Champions League showdown against Real Madrid to commence.
It’s been 19 years since Arsenal beat Real Madrid over two legs in the Champions League round of 16.
The memories of 2006 still haunt Madrid, who are yet to beat the Gunners competitively, with another test scheduled to commence on Tuesday night.
Mikel Arteta has called on Arsenal fans to support the team in the first leg at the Emirates, where the North Londoners will be eager to earn a favourable result to take with them to the Bernabeu.
Craig Burley identifies an area that Real Madrid could struggle
Though the spectacle is one of excitement, there’s also a daunting feeling around the Emirates due to Arsenal’s injury list.
Losing Gabriel Magalhaes before the tie was a real blow; however, the Gunners aren’t the only ones struggling on the injury front.
Real Madrid have a list of absentees, including former Gunner Dani Ceballos, making the tie all the more difficult to predict.
On the subject of predictions, Chelsea icon Craig Burley shared a forecast regarding where Madrid could crumble against Arsenal.
“He’s got a lot of questions to answer, Ancelotti has, he has some conundrums as well,” Burley told ESPN.
“Depending on Bukayo Saka, how sharp he can be after this long injury lay-off and he’s had some game time, and Martinelli is looking relatively sharp again.
“One of the areas that’s really going to struggle for Real Madrid is full-back, both sides.”
Both Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy will miss out, leaving Carlo Ancelotti with a dilemma to tend to at fullback, a concern that Burley touched upon.
Emphasis on Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli
Bukayo Saka is ready to face Real Madrid, being cleared fit for the fixture after returning to action with cameos against Fulham and Everton.
The right winger acknowledged that his return couldn’t have come at a better time, which rings true when studying where Real Madrid are struggling and how Arsenal like to play.
Arsenal generate play from the wide areas, a strength of the Gunners that Ancelotti’s side will have a tough time of dulling down, particularly with Saka back and Gabriel Martinelli in form.
Martinelli was superb against Fulham and will be eager to inflict a similar amount of pain on Madrid, who are already wounded in that area.
Two legs separate Arsenal and their first Champions League semi-final since 2009, in what is promised to be a thriller of a tie.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
