The key reasons why Arsenal CAN win the Champions League after Real Madrid demolition | OneFootball

Gunners have nothing left to fear as they target European glory

The vacuum between the two legs of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid is just another part of the challenge for Mikel Arteta’s players.

There will be suggestions that Arsenal’s soft-centre could return if Real score early, that Jakub Kiwior will not be so well-shielded from Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr at the Bernabeu, that Real have not lost at this stage of the competition for 21 years and are not about to start now.

This discourse is an intrinsic part of Real’s success; they have made comebacks part of the very fabric of the club and will have rich seams of inspiration to draw from, especially their remarkable run to the trophy in 2021-22, when they came back against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Man City in the knockouts.

Declan Rice scored two sensational free-kicks as Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final on Tuesday

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

There is every reason to think, though, that Arteta’s side can meet the psychological challenge after their magnificent 3-0 win over the holders, in which Arsenal effectively broke Real’s spell - thanks to some sorcery of their own in Declan Rice’s two remarkable free-kicks.

The obvious temptation from here is to look ahead at Arsenal’s chances of winning the competition - more on that below - but it is important to consider the significance of finishing the job against Real next week.

Only four clubs have managed to eliminate the 15-time winners from the Champions League in the past 11 seasons (City twice, Chelsea and Ajax) and for Arsenal to join that group would represent another enormous step forward under Arteta.

Last season, in defeat to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, Arsenal looked like a good side who were still green at this level.

Their progress in a year, sweeping aside Real, is testament to Arteta’s work to change the mentality of his players and improve them on the training ground, in spite of two frustrating transfer windows (though summer signing Mikel Merino, who scored the third on Tuesday, is earning cult status).

The Real result has transformed the outlook of their season, which was in danger of petering out amid recriminations about the club’s failure to sign a striker, but also their standing in Europe and their future prospects under Arteta.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal travel to the Bernabeu for the second leg against Real Madrid next Wednesday

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

And so there is every reason to think Arsenal can be European champions in Germany in June.

Having seen off Real at home, there is nothing left to fear in the competition, particularly for a side which appears perfectly set-up for European knockout football.

Arsenal concede few goals and can always score in cagey games, with Rice suddenly adding a new threat from dead-ball situations.

While Arteta’s side have struggled against low blocks this season, there are no teams left in the Champions League - with the possible exception of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa - who are likely to set up to frustrate Arsenal.

There will be opportunities for Arteta’s players to get at their opponents if they reach the last-four, as Bukayo Saka found with his fruitful return to the XI against Real, terrorising David Alaba.

A refreshed Saka, who has said he benefited mentally from a three-month lay-off, is another huge reason for optimism.

For all their problems, however, Real have earned the right never to be written off, leaving Arsenal needing to hold their nerve.