Mikel Arteta's Arsenal gear up to stun Real Madrid

By SABC Sport
8th April 2025

Arsenal are bracing themselves for a colossal Champions League showdown against Real Madrid on Tuesday, with manager Mikel Arteta delivering a fiery call to arms for his squad and fans alike.

The Gunners are set to battle the European giants over two legs, in what could be the defining moment of their recent history.

With Liverpool pulling away in the Premier League title chase, Arsenal's hopes of silverware this season rest heavily on their European campaign.

Arteta's men face a Real Madrid side who have stumbled in their own domestic title pursuit, suffering a last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Valencia at the weekend.

That loss followed a chaotic Copa del Rey tie, where Ancelotti's team scraped through on penalties after a 4-4 draw with Real Sociedad.

Arsenal, by contrast, have shown their firepower in Europe this term. They demolished PSV 9-3 in the last round and proved their resilience with a 2-0 victory over PSG earlier in the competition.

Last season, the Gunners bowed out at this stage, but not before holding Bayern Munich to a gritty 2-2 draw at the Emirates.

Arteta has insisted that unshakable belief will be the key to toppling Real Madrid. "At 8pm, with 11 players and 60,000 fans, we all need to be absolutely certain we're ready to win and beat them," he said.

"Through all the highs and lows we face, that conviction is our superpower."

The Spaniard also reflected on the personal pride he feels to be leading Arsenal into such a high-stakes clash. "It's a privilege to prepare for this game, to study them, to see the buzz among the fans and how we're feeling ahead of a match this big," he added.

"The excitement around the club is electric, this is the stage Arsenal belong on, consistently. We're proud to be here and more than ready."

Recent updates from Arsenal's official X account confirm the team have completed their final training session ahead of the trip to Madrid, with Arteta spotted putting the squad through intense drills.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti has admitted his side "need to sharpen up defensively" after their recent slip-ups, setting the stage for a blockbuster encounter.