LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta attends a press convention forward of their UEFA Champions League 2024/25 quarter ultimate first leg match at Sobha Realty Coaching Centre on April 07, 2025 in London Colney, England. (Picture by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC through Getty Photos)
Arsenal are gearing up for a mammoth Champions League quarter-final showdown in opposition to 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 real looking shot at silverware this season.
Whereas the title race isn’t mathematically over, the percentages are firmly stacked in opposition to Mikel Arteta’s facet catching up.
Regardless of home frustrations, Arsenal have regarded sharp in Europe. After ending third within the group stage, the Gunners thrashed PSV 7-1 away from house and performed out a 2-2 draw on the Emirates to cruise via the Spherical of 16 with a 9-3 mixture victory.
Now, they face Actual Madrid—Europe’s most adorned membership and a group infamous for his or her uncanny means to search out wins within the Champions League, even when not at their greatest.
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 group has come beneath his steerage.
The Arsenal boss praised his group’s development and made it clear that his gamers are prepared for the problem
Arteta advised reporters:
“After I took over we have been very far-off from qualifying for the Champions League! Overlook about enjoying quarterfinals twice in 15 years. However that’s credit score to the membership, how they’ve made quite a lot of good choices. We’re nonetheless very unhappy as a result of we would like rather more.”
“I like to compete in opposition to the very best and be challenged in opposition to the very best. We’re in a really particular competitors, we don’t have any historical past when it comes to successful it. No person has extra starvation and need than us, it’s not possible.”
“The group has given the explanations to consider in them and quite a lot of arguments to suppose we are able to beat any opposition. Now we’ve got to do it. We now have 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 received knocked out by Barcelona.
Below Wenger, Arsenal appeared fairly ceaselessly within the Champions League however did not get previous the Spherical of 16s in most events.
Nevertheless, after 2016/2017, the membership struggled to even qualify for the competitors, with league ending fifth and beneath.
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 like a strong facet beneath Mikel Arteta who progressed steadily over time each within the Premier League in addition to the Champions League.
Beating Madrid can be large in highway to ultimate
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 check of their mettle. If they’re to actually announce themselves on Europe’s largest stage, it begins with conquering the kings of the competitors.
