LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta attends a press convention forward of their UEFA Champions League 2024/25 quarter last first leg match at Sobha Realty Coaching Centre on April 07, 2025 in London Colney, England. (Photograph by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC by way of Getty Pictures)
Arsenal are gearing up for a mammoth Champions League quarter-final showdown towards 15-time winners Actual Madrid—a tie that would outline their season.
Having exited each home cups and fallen 11 factors behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, the Champions League stays Arsenal’s solely life like shot at silverware this season.
Whereas the title race isn’t mathematically over, the chances are firmly stacked towards Mikel Arteta’s facet catching up.
Regardless of home frustrations, Arsenal have seemed sharp in Europe. After ending third within the group stage, the Gunners thrashed PSV 7-1 away from residence and performed out a 2-2 draw on the Emirates to cruise by means of the Spherical of 16 with a 9-3 combination victory.
Now, they face Actual Madrid—Europe’s most adorned membership and a staff infamous for his or her uncanny potential to seek out wins within the Champions League, even when not at their finest.
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal have come actually far beneath him
Talking forward of the conflict, Mikel Arteta underlined the transformation Arsenal have undergone since his arrival.
He acknowledged the problem Madrid current, however was fast to remind critics how far the staff has come beneath his steerage.
The Arsenal boss praised his staff’s progress and made it clear that his gamers are prepared for the problem
Arteta advised reporters:
“Once I took over we have been very far-off from qualifying for the Champions League! Neglect about taking part in quarterfinals twice in 15 years. However that’s credit score to the membership, how they’ve made plenty of good selections. We’re nonetheless very unhappy as a result of we wish far more.”
“I like to compete towards the perfect and be challenged towards the perfect. We’re in a really particular competitors, we don’t have any historical past when it comes to profitable it. No person has extra starvation and need than us, it’s unattainable.”
“The staff has given the explanations to imagine in them and plenty of arguments to assume we are able to beat any opposition. Now now we have to do it. We have now to ship. Not speak an excessive amount of, have the assumption that we’re greater than ready to do it after which do it.”
DId Arteta take a refined dig at Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery
Arteta’s feedback signifies that the membership weren’t doing rather well, particularly within the Champions League all through these years.
The Spaniard has managed to information the membership into again to again quarter-finals. Earlier than him, the final time they certified for the the final 8 was in 09/10, the place they bought knocked out by Barcelona.
Beneath Wenger, Arsenal appeared fairly ceaselessly within the Champions League however did not get previous the Spherical of 16s in most events.
Nonetheless, after 2016/2017, the membership struggled to even qualify for the competitors, with league ending fifth and under.
Ultimately, Wenger stepped down and Unai Emery was appointed for a yr and a half, the place he guided the membership to a fifth positioned end.
They now appear to be a stable facet beneath Mikel Arteta who progressed steadily through the years each within the Premier League in addition to the Champions League.
Beating Madrid could be large in highway to last
Ought to Arsenal overcome Actual Madrid, they’ll go on to face the winner of PSG vs Aston Villa within the semi-finals—a tantalising prospect for Gunners followers dreaming of a historic European run.
With perception surging contained in the camp and all the pieces to play for, Arsenal now face the last word take a look at of their mettle. If they’re to really announce themselves on Europe’s greatest stage, it begins with conquering the kings of the competitors.
