A fantastic double from emerging free-kick expert Declan Rice guided Arsenal to a commanding 3-0 advantage in the first leg against reigning European champions Real Madrid last week. Now, they face the task of maintaining their lead in the upcoming match in the Spanish capital on Wednesday.
The fans at the Bernabeu have witnessed their team clinch the UEFA Champions League trophy a remarkable 15 times. However, their hopes of securing a 16th title seem dim after the disappointment of the initial leg.
Team news
Kylian Mbappe received a red card over the weekend, but that does not affect his availability for the upcoming continental match, and he is expected to be well-rested for the crucial second leg.
Eduardo Camavinga is suspended following his dismissal at the Emirates, paving the way for Aurelien Tchouameni to step in after serving his own suspension.
Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal will miss out due to injuries, while Ferland Mendy and Andriy Lunin are both major doubts for the match.
Arsenal's midfield pair Jorginho and Thomas Partey are questionable after sustaining injuries against Brentford.
Ben White is also racing to regain fitness, and these three players could potentially add to the long list of absentees which includes Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kai Havertz, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Riccardo Calafiori.
The statistics
Both teams have scored in three of Arsenal's last four games, with the Gunners emerging victorious in five of their previous ten away fixtures.
Real Madrid have secured victories in seven of their last ten home matches, netting 12 goals and conceding 10 in their most recent five home games.
Prediction
Real Madrid are facing an uphill battle after conceding three goals in the second half, leaving them with a 3-0 deficit in the Champions League quarter-finals. Despite this, they are unlikely to take a passive approach in the upcoming match against Arsenal at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Carlo Ancelotti's team has defied the odds in the past on their journey to becoming Europe's most successful club, but the need to play offensively in the second leg may provide Arsenal with opportunities to strike back.
Real Madrid have only kept one clean sheet in their last 12 competitive home fixtures, although they have scored 36 goals during this period and have not failed to score at home in the Champions League since 2018.
While Arsenal have occasionally struggled to secure victories, they have proven to be a resilient team regardless of the venue this season. Mikel Arteta will likely be content with any result that ensures progression to the semi-finals in Madrid.
This scenario could lead to Arsenal adopting a defensive approach to protect their aggregate lead, even if they are trailing in the individual match. As a result, a home victory with both teams finding the net appears to be an attractive choice.