Mikel Arteta reveals how fearless Arsenal will approach Real Madrid showdown

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·15 April 2025

Mikel Arteta reveals how fearless Arsenal will approach Real Madrid showdown

Gunners head to the Bernabeu with a commanding 3-0 advantage as they look to reach the Champions League semi-finals

Key difference: Mikel Arteta insists that Arsenal respect Real Madrid’s storied history in the Champions League, but do not fear them

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Mikel Arteta says his Arsenal players do not fear the prospect of a Real Madrid comeback and will do their talking on the pitch.

The Gunners are in a commanding position ahead of the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie after winning 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium last week.

However, their opponents believe they can pull off a historic comeback, with Jude Bellingham saying that Wednesday is “a night made for Real Madrid”.

The Spanish side have a famous history of pulling off comebacks, but asked if he has seen any fear in his players this week about that possibility, Arteta said: “I wouldn’t use that word.

“I think respect, admiration for what they’ve done in the competition as a club over the years, the history they have, the values that they defend. Unbelievable. Amazing.

“And inspiration for any coach, any manager, any team. But after that is the competition. It’s what we are going to face tomorrow, an opposition that we know very well and that we are determined to go out there and try to win the game.”

Arsenal are clear favourites for the game and they have history on their side. The last time the Gunners lost by a four-goal margin was in November 2021, while December 2023 was the most recent occasion they shipped three in a game.

Arteta is aware of all the statistics - and Arsenal’s impressive defensive record - but he wants them to do their talking on the pitch.

“We have to prove it now in this context,” he said. “And that’s the beauty of it. That’s the challenge and that’s the great thing about sports.

“That we’ve shown that we are capable of doing it, that has to give us reassurance and confidence that we can do it. And now, let’s talk on the pitch and do it on the pitch. It’s the only thing that matters.”

Arteta wants Arsenal to approach the second leg the same way they did the first - and go for the win.

“The same mindset,” he said. “The mindset to win, to be brave, to be dominant, to be determined and to have the conviction that we can be better than them and win the game.

“The same that we did in London, our preparation has been the things that we have to do, the things that we have to dominate throughout the game in different phases to give us the best possible chance to win the game. That’s clear our mindset and then we’re going to play tomorrow.”