Arsenal team news vs Real Madrid and predicted lineup | OneFootball

Arsenal will be looking to finish the job and book their place in the Champions League semi-finals when they travel to Real Madrid on Wednesday at 8pm (UK time).

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Real Madrid

Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli.

Arsenal pulled off one of their biggest results in years when they thrashed Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg last week, thanks to some free-kick genius from Declan Rice. However, that will only go down as an iconic game in Gunners history if they finish the job at the Bernabeu on Wednesday evening.

If Mikel Arteta’s men make it through, they’ll face PSG or Aston Villa in the semi-finals. With the Parisians taking a commanding lead in the first leg, it’s likely to be a battle between two teams who are looking to reach their second final and have never won this competition.

Arsenal team news vs Real Madrid

Arteta shuffled his pack against Brentford, but managed to give minutes to both Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka, calming fears they could be injured for the second leg.

Even so, Arsenal will be without Gabriel Magalhães, Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kai Havertz, who are all out for the season. Thomas Partey and Riccardo Calafiori are doubts but should be fine, while Ben White will also hope to be included in the squad after playing just a minute in the first leg.

Jakub Kiwior impressed in the first leg, filling in for Gabriel, and the Poland international will continue here. Meanwhile, Mikel Merino will continue on as a stand-in striker; a role he’s grown into with six goals and an assist in his last 11 games across all competitions.

Can Arsenal finish the job?

For Arsenal, this is a huge opportunity to make history and finish off what would be a huge upset.

Despite being one of England’s biggest clubs, the Gunners have only ever made one Champions League final and have never won the competition. In fact, they’re arguably the biggest club never to lift the trophy. Contrast that to Real Madrid, who are the competition’s most successful club with 15 titles and 18 total finals, and you can see the task that awaited the North London side.

Nevertheless, Arsenal take a commanding lead to the Spanish capital after two Rice free-kicks and a Mikel Merino strike secured a 3-0 first-leg victory at the Emirates. That’ll be a memorable night whatever happens, but now it’s time to make it write it into Arsenal folklore.

Arsenal haven’t lost in any competition since going down 1-0 at home to West Ham in February. Meanwhile, they’ve not lost by three or more goals since way back in May 2023, when Brighton beat them 3-0 at the Emirates. What’s more, Arsenal’s last visit to the Bernabeu saw Arsenal win 1-0 thanks to a Thierry Henry strike back in February 2006 en route to their only Champions League final to date.

The omens are good and history awaits Arsenal in Madrid.