Arsenal have the task of playing Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals next month and Gunners star Mikel Merino knows how big of a challenge his team face
Arsenal star Mikel Merino has revealed that his team-mates have already been asking about the ‘aura’ of Real Madrid ahead of their Champions League quarter-final clash. The Gunners will take on 15-time winners of the competition Real next month, with each side having been on contrasting routes to the last eight.
Real only finished 11th in the table after their eight games in the league phase, meaning that they had to face Manchester City in a play-off. Los Blancos managed to overcome the Premier League champions fairly comfortably, but their last-16 tie against local rivals Atletico Madrid was anything but.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side saw their one-goal lead from the first leg quickly erased and needed some fortune in the penalty shootout to advance. Arsenal, meanwhile, hammered PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate.
With the international break now taking place, Merino has found himself back in Spain and surrounded by some of the Real players who he’ll be coming up against on April 8 at the Emirates and April 16 at the Bernabeu. The second leg of the tie has been a big talking point back at Arsenal, with the midfielder admitting that Real’s record of completing comebacks at the Bernabeu is impossible to hide from.
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“They ask me what the stadium is like, what the atmosphere is like, if the aura surrounding Real Madrid in the Champions League and their comebacks is true,” Merino told Spanish radio station Onda Cero. “And of course, when they’ve done it so many times, that’s the image people have of them.”
Asked who’s the favourite for the tie, the 28-year-old replied: “Talking about favourites is very difficult because the Champions League shows you that the details make the difference. There are three or four teams that can be considered favourites, but you can’t just pick one.”
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Although the first leg in north London is just under two weeks away, boss Mikel Arteta has already told his players how they can overcome holders Real. “The first thing is that you have to be at your best when it comes to that for the two games, for every minute,” Arteta said.
“Don’t give anything away, because they’re going to take it. And today, we’ve seen that with the two goals that we’ve conceded as well, so that’s a big learning.
“In the end, the game is going to be decided in the boxes, individual talent, individual performances is crucial, and then creating an unbelievable atmosphere when we have the opportunity to play at home, that is crucial.”
First up for Arsenal, though, are two Premier League matches. The Gunners welcome Fulham before making the trip to Everton.
Between their two clashes with Real comes a home game against Brentford. Arsenal have a mountain to climb in the Premier League title race, where they find themselves 12 points behind Liverpool with only nine games to go. Sunday’s routine 1-0 win at home to Chelsea keeps them in the fight but it’s in Europe where Arsenal’s focus mainly lies.
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