Arsenal are preparing for a monumental clash in the Bernabeu as they look to reach the Champions League semi final for the first time since 2009.
Mikel Arteta gave a positive fitness update on both Thomas Partey and Ben White after both suffered injury scares before and during the Premier League clash with Brentford.
Real Madrid legend Marcelo has warned Arsenal to expect a response from the Spanish side following their humiliation in the first leg and Jude Bellingham also believes his side will turn the tie around.
Arsenal have not reached a Champions League semi final in 16 years and will be wary that teams from Spain have caused them European heartache before.
Five Spanish clubs have knocked Arsenal out of Europe
Arteta will believe that his players can handle the pressure and atmosphere that will no doubt be ramped up by the home crowd.
However, the Gunners have crumbled against Spanish opposition in the past, here are five Spanish clubs that have caused European heartbreak for Arsenal.
Real Zaragoza
Arsenal were hoping to retain the European Cup Winners Cup in 1995 having already won the trophy the previous year thanks to Alan Smith’s strike in a 1-0 victory over Parma.
However, up against Real Zaragoza of Spain and with the game poised at 1-1, David Seaman has perhaps his worst moment in a Gunners shirt as he was beaten with a strike from near the halfway line.
To make matters even worse for Arsenal, the goal scorer Nayim used to play for North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Valencia
Having won the first leg of the Champions League quarter final tie at Highbury 2-1, Arsene Wenger’s side travelled to Valencia in 2001 confident of finishing the job and reaching their first ever semi final.
However, the Gunners struggled to make things happen going forward and with just 15 minutes left on the clock, former Aston Villa striker John Carew rose highest from a cross to plant the winner past Seaman.
It was a cruel way for Wenger’s side to depart the competition on away goals but it was a missed opportunity as the French boss never managed to secure Europe’s premier trophy.
Barcelona
Jens Lehmann broke a Champions League record on the way to reaching the 2006 final in Paris against a star-studded Barcelona side.
The German keeper was sent off after just 18 minutes before Sol Campbell miraculously gave Arsenal something to hold on to.
Thierry Henry had several chances to grab a second on the counter attack before a quick-fire double from Samuel Eto’o and Juliano Belletti broke Gunners dreams.
Atletico Madrid
In Wenger’s last season at the club, Arsenal suffered semi final heartache in the Europa League against a tough Diego Simeone outfit in Atletico Madrid in 2018.
It was a missed opportunity for the Gunners who could only manage a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium despite Atletico playing 80 minutes with ten men after an early red card from Sime Vrsaljko.
Antoine Griezmann struck a late equaliser in the first leg and it was former Chelsea striker Diego Costa who came back to haunt Wenger in the second leg with the only goal in a 1-0 win.
Villareal
In 2021, former boss Unai Emery came back to gain revenge on the Gunners after leading his Villareal side to a semi final victory over Arteta in the Europa League.
Arsenal battled to a 2-1 defeat in Spain, leaving them favourites going into the second leg having grabbed an all important away goal thanks to Nicolas Pepe.
However, Villareal’s stubborn resistance could not be broken despite the best attempts of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Arsenal crashed out of Europe once again.
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