Arsenal eased past PSV Eindhoven in the round of 16 to secure a Champions League quarter-final tie with Real Madrid.
The Gunners beat the Dutch side 9-3 over two legs, cruising into the last eight of Europe’s elite competition.
Real Madrid overcame Atletico Madrid on penalties to seal their place, setting up a mouth-watering clash between two of the continent’s best sides.
Arsenal knocked Real out of the Champions League back in 2006, and will hoping to replicate this feat against Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded ensemble in April.
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Joe Cole and Martin Keown believe Arsenal can beat Real Madrid
Arsenal fans were excited when Real Madrid edged past Atletico, with the prospect of taking on Los Blancos at the Emirates and the Bernabeu certainly something to look forward to amidst a league season that is fizzling out.
The Gunners have several weeks to prepare for the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, with Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff likely putting plans in place to negate the threat that the Spanish giants carry.
Speaking on TNT Sports after the game, Joe Cole claimed that the North Londoners have what it takes to beat Real Madrid over two legs.
“Absolutely, on their day, Arsenal can beat anyone,” Cole said.
“Would I back them? I’m not sure, I’d have to see how they approach the game. But listen, this Arsenal team have the quality to beat anyone on any given day.”
Martin Keown agreed that Arsenal have a genuine chance of progressing into the last four.
“I agree with that, Arsenal make a formidable opponent for anyone,” Keown said.
How can Arsenal cope with Kylian Mbappe?
While Vinicius and Rodrygo provide dangerous threat from both flanks, the superstar Arsenal need to tame is Mbappe.
The Frenchman endured a difficult start to life in the Spanish capital, but has slowly found his best form at the Bernabeu.
Netting 29 goals already across all competitions, if the Gunners can negate Mbappe, they’ll be in a good position to progress.
The key will be restricting the space he has to run in behind Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.
This may mean Arsenal have to set up in more of a low block than they usually would, and limit how high they press up the pitch.
As shown in Real Madrid’s tie against Manchester City, when Mbappe is afforded the space to exploit in behind, he’s lethal.
Limiting that space like Atletico did for much of the second leg, and looking to hit Ancelotti’s team in the wide areas in transition, is the best way for Arteta’s side to go about beating the European champions.
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