There is “one thing” about Real Madrid that should give Arsenal confidence of stunning the Champions League winners in Tuesday’s quarter-final first legex-Gunners midfielder Ray Parlour has told Buzz.
Mikel Arteta‘s men host the 15-time European cup winners in the pick of this week’s continental battles, as the clubs reunite 19 years on from their first two and currently only meetings in competitive action to date.
The 2005-06 campaign saw Arsene Wenger‘s Arsenal shock Los Blancos in the last 16, following up a 1-0 away win with a goalless stalemate at home, although Parlour was not around for that historic success having left Highbury a couple of years earlier.
The three-time Premier League winner has explained that Real’s tendency to attack could work to Arsenal’s advantage, though, but Arteta’s side still need to win “eight out of 10 battles” to stand a genuine chance of progression.
“They’ve got good players going forward. The whole defence as a unit has got to be really on their game. They come from all different angles, Real Madrid, when they score their goals,” Parlour told Buzz.
“Up front for Arsenal, you’ve got to take your chances. The one thing about Real Madrid, they give you a chance because they’ll have a go at you. Arsenal get frustrated when teams come to the Emirates and get everyone behind the ball.
“West Ham done a great job and got the result. But I think Real Madrid will be different. They’ll be having a go at Arsenal and it’s up to Arsenal to win the ball back in good areas and hit them on the break. And then it’s all about taking your chances.
Parlour: ‘Arsenal need to win 80% of battles vs. Real Madrid’
“I think midfield is always so important. Who bosses that midfield? Declan Rice is going to be important in there. But I wouldn’t say there’s one battle. There’s loads of battles. You’ve got to win eight battles out of probably ten if you’re going to have a chance. That’s the sort of game it’s going to be.
“Defensively, you’ve got to be solid. Don’t let them score, because Real Madrid can score two or three no problem. Whoever plays at right-back and left-back has got to be really focused in to say that maybe we don’t get forward as much as we’d like to, but we’re going to make it difficult for them to score. Then you’re relying, hopefully on that break, you can run yourself out.”
When the draw for the knockout stages of the Champions League was made, defence may have been the best form of attack for Arsenal against Real Madrid, having lost both recognised centre-forwards in Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz to season-ending injuries.
At the same time, Bukayo from and Gabriel Theminies were also working their way back from hamstring problems, but Arteta’s first-choice wingers are now fit and firing ahead of Tuesday’s opening tie.
Arteta has hinted that Saka would be given the green light to make his first start of 2025 in the first leg, but after dealing with a ravaged attack while having a near fully-fit defence, the tables have now turned for the Gunners.
Riccardo Calafuri and Gabriel Magalhaes have joined Takehiro Tomiyasu on the sidelines; Gabriel will miss the rest of the season with his hamstring concern, while Calafiori’s knee injury is not expected to heal in time for the trip to the Bernabeu on April 16.
Nevertheless, Parlour can envisage Real Madrid getting “frustrated” in the second leg if Arsenal can keep a rigid defensive structure, adding: “If Arsenal can get a good result at home, Real Madrid are a bit hit-and-miss at times. You’re hoping you hit them on a bad day and you can get a result. It’s going to be difficult, Bernabeu, second leg.
How Arsenal can ‘frustrate’ Real Madrid in Bernabeu second leg
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“The crowd will be buzzing, it’s a difficult place to play. But you’ve got to go there and make sure in that first 15, 20 minutes, try and silence the crowd and they will get frustrated. Any big club, when it seems that nothing’s going for them or they can’t seem to make a chance or break them down, they get frustrated, and that’s exactly what they need to do.
“That’s all down to the first 15, 20 minutes for me, how you approach the game. We don’t know what’s going to happen in the first leg yet. Real Madrid might go to the Emirates and beat them 3-0 and then suddenly it’s a different game.
“But if they can get a result, Arsenal, which they’re capable of doing, especially at home, then they’ve got something to hold on to. Then it’d be interesting to see what tactics Mikel does on that second leg, because maybe he goes a bit more defensive minded and plays a different sort of way.
“It’s going to be a really intriguing game. Goals are very important in football matches and Arsenal have lacked a few in recent weeks. But you’re certainly expecting Real Madrid to make opportunities and maybe get a chance.”
Real Madrid will also travel to North London with a slightly depleted squad, as Oeder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Dani Carvajal, Andriy Lunin and Dani Ceballos are on the treatment table, while Aurelien Tchouameni is banned.
Los Blancos are at risk of losing another six players to suspension for the second leg, while Arsenal could have three more banned for the Bernabeu battle if they are booked on Tuesday.
Ray Parlour was speaking to Buzz on behalf of NetBet Sports Betting.
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