Arsenal vs Real Madrid 08.04.2025 - 20:00 KO GMT

Arguably the most consequential European tie for Arsenal in over a decade, both in terms of prestige and in terms of being a barometer of where we are and how far we still have to go.


Real Madrid are one of those teams that can be irrepressible when it comes to knockout European football, but they have been bested by English opponents (City in 2020 and 2023, Chelsea in 2021)

They have of course also bested English teams in that time

This has not been a consistently good team in Europe - Lost to AC Milan, Lille and Liverpool in the league stage, but they steamrolled City and despite being taken all the way by city rivals Atletico ultimately triumphed against them.

It could be argued that their six trophies in 11 seasons suggests they win when they need to

They are the reigning European champions

If we fall short (which I suspect we may) I think ultimately our shortcoming will be up front rather than in defence. Saka is our best player I don’t think there’s any doubt about that, but we cannot rely on him to single handedly bring us through. An inconsistent Martinelli and Odegaard who looks like he’s short on confidence and amazingly short on form are going to have to show something they’ve not shown for an age…what they are truly capable of

I would favour this lineup

Raya, White, Timber, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Martinelli, Nwaneri, Saka

I hope we win, tbh.

Just hoping we make it competitive and also learn from that first leg against Bayern last year where we could have won but instead lost composure and had to scrape a draw.

I’m going to try and be positive for this and say a 2-1 win. :scarf:

Rice is on a yellow card though, not having him in the Bernabeu would be disastrous for our already slim chances of progressing.

Ah. Apparently it's on Prime. Nice. Will be watching then.

0-3 Mbappe hatter

It'll be interesting to see how we set up defensively - Kiwior was fine re Everton but obvs Real is another matter.

That said given the paucity of options and White not being fully fit I think I'd go for the following:

He'll start Saka I'm sure, so I'm not even going to bother to suggest otherwise.

Raya
Timber Saliba Kiwior MLS
Partey
Ode Rice
Saka Merino Martinelli

Quick question, I wasn't to sure but who started as our CF on Saturday.....was it Trossard or Merino? And if it was Trossard does that mean Arteta is thinking of playing him in that role against Real?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 21_GOONER_SALUTE

Quick question, I wasn't to sure but who started as our CF on Saturday.....was it Trossard or Merino? And if it was Trossard does that mean Arteta is thinking of playing him in that role against Real?

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It appeared to be, I’d have personally shifted him and Sterling around but he scored and Sterling was predictably useless so there we go

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn

It appeared to be, I’d have personally shifted him and Sterling around but he scored and Sterling was predictably useless so there we go

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Useless apart from providing the good assist to Trossard :haha:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mac76

Useless apart from providing the good assist to Trossard :haha:

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He found Trossard who was in space to his left because he didn’t have the legs to take the ball any further himself

And constantly throughout the game lacked the ability to beat his man

Just seen an article asking why Raheem Sterling wasn't included in Arsenal's training session for the Madrid game (asking was he injured and will he be in the squad for the match) erm there's a very good reason for this he is SUSPENDED... https://tbrfootball.com/exceptional-...-madrid-clash/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dazthegooner

Just seen an article asking why Raheem Sterling wasn't included in Arsenal's training session for the Madrid game (asking was he injured and will he be in the squad for the match) erm there's a very good reason for this he is SUSPENDED... https://tbrfootball.com/exceptional-...-madrid-clash/

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The article also talks about starting Trossard ahead of Merino and pointing out this makes our front 3 more interchangeable, something I hadn't considered.

The problem is we've done this in the past and if IIRC that interchangeable just means no one is ever in the box when we play balls in there.

I wouldn’t play Merino or Trossard up front both are non starters.

I’d play Nwaneri up front or failing that Saka

https://x.com/footballontnt/status/1...k_DvSqUkaQFrjw

I have to say if everyone was fit, there’s only three Real Madrid players that I’d definitely pick over Arsenal players

Raya or Courtois - Raya

White or Carvajal - White

Gabriel or Rudiger - Gabriel

Saliba or Alaba - Saliba

Timber or Mendy - Not a lot in it but Timber

Partey or Modric - Partey, Modric is 40 isn’t he?

Rice or Valverde - Not great deal in it again but Rice


Odegaard or Bellingham - Both been in poor form but I’d pick Bellingham


Saka or Rodrygo - Saka are you kidding me


Mbappe or Havertz - Obvs Mbappe


Martinelli or Vini jr - Vini Jnr

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn

I wouldn’t play Merino or Trossard up front both are non starters.

I’d play Nwaneri up front or failing that Saka

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Arteta won't start Nwaneri in this game, that's almost a given. If he does play, it'll likely only be as a sub for Saka if he gets tired. Though its more likely Arteta will play another DM there to suffocate the game if we happen to be ahead.

As for who should play as our forward today, I'm still not really sure.

In the short time we've had Merino, he does seem to be a big game player, I appreciate that about him. As for Trossard, he is definitely the more skillful and a better attacking threat on his day. But like I've said recently, his attitude leaves much to be desired and I can't call him a big game player either.

I am leaning towards starting Merino as CF ....Martinelli and Trossard can battle it off for the spot on the left.

The tricky thing about Real Madrid is that I don’t think it really matters how you set up because they’re the most adaptable team in the world in how they seem to just absorb and cope with whatever they come up against.

For what it’s worth I would start Merino just because I feel we need someone to occupy their centre backs. Saka and Martinelli either side of him should be able to create space to play. If things aren’t working then get Trossard on early in the second half.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn

Mbappe or Havertz - Obvs Mbappe
Martinelli or Vini jr - Vini Jnr

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:lol:

Ya think?

Moving on

These were the lineups 19 years ago for the first leg in the Bernabeu

Real Madrid

Casillas, Cicinho, Ramos, Woodgate, R Carlos, Gravesen, Zidane, Guti, Beckham, Robinho, Ronaldo


Arsenal

Lehmann, Eboue, K Toure, Senderos, Flamini, Gilberto, Fabregas, Hleb, Ljungberg, Reyes, Henry



We picked the same lineup for the return leg at Highbury but Real Madrid made three changes - Salgado for Cicinho, Raul for Robinho and Raul Bravo for woodgate

Team to play Real Madrid: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Merino.
Subs: Neto, Setford, Tierney, White, Zinchenko, Trossard, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Nwaneri.

Kiwior. :rose:

Team to play Real Madrid: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Merino.
Subs: Neto, Setford, Tierney, White, Zinchenko, Trossard, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Nwaneri.

Once again not impressed with the lineup. Kiwior nor Merino should be playing in my view

Our previous outings against Spanish opposition


1999/00 Barcelona (A) - D 1-1
1999/00 Barcelona (H) - L 2-4
2000/01 Valencia (H) - W 2-1
2000/01 Valencia (A) - L 0-1
2001/02 Real Mallorca (A) - L 0-1
2001/02 Real Mallorca (H) - W 3-1
2001/02 Deportivo (A) - L 0-2
2001/02 Deportivo (H) - L 0-2
2002/03 Valencia (H) - D 0-0
2002/03 Valencia (A) - L 1-2
2003/04 Celta Vigo (A) - W 3-2
2003/04 Celta Vigo (H) - W 2-0
2005/06 Real Madrid (A) - W 1-0
2005/06 Real Madrid (H) - D 0-0
2005/06 Villarreal (H) - W 1-0
2005/06 Villarreal (A) - D 0-0
2005/06 Barcelona (N) - L 1-2
2007/08 Sevilla (H) - W 3-0
2007/08 Sevilla (A) - L 1-3
2008/09 Villarreal (A) - D 1-1
2008/09 Villarreal (H) - W 3-0
2009/10 Barcelona (H) - D 2-2
2009/10 Barcelona (A) - L 1-4
2010/11 Barcelona (H) - W 2-1
2010/11 Barcelona (A) - L 1-3
2015/16 Barcelona (H) - L 0-2
2015/16 Barcelona (A) - L 1-3
2023/24 Sevilla (A) - W 2-1
2023/24 Sevilla (H) - W 2-0
2024/25 Girona (A) - W 2-1

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

Team to play Real Madrid: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Merino.
Subs: Neto, Setford, Tierney, White, Zinchenko, Trossard, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Nwaneri.

Kiwior. :rose:

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Real Madrid: Courtois, Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Alaba, Modric, Camavinga, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
Subs: Gonzalez, Mestre, Guler, Endrick, Lucas V, Vallejo, Fran Garcia, Brahim, Gonzalo, Jacobo, Chema, Lorenzo.

As much as I obviously wouldn't want you to win it, anyone to beat Madrid.

Voulez Vous :bow:

Jesus Christ did Fabregas really say he was playing 20 years ago? :sick:

Couple of sloppy moments already. :sick:

Composure lads, please.

Partey shot, saved.

Why would they even check that?
Absolutely no way that’s ever a pel :doh:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

Couple of sloppy moments already. :sick:

Composure lads, please.

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A couple but overall we’re doing pretty well so far.

Apart from Saka in the first five-ten minutes, nothing massively stands out as really sloppy

We’ve been good so far at getting back into position when we do lose possession

That said Saliba was bloody sloppy there

Bloody hell :sick:

Mbappe :lol:
What a clogger

This is starting to look a bit ominous.

What a ball by Saka. No one throws themselves at it

That was better!
Pretty good double save from the Real ‘keeper

Had chances, not taken them.

We go again next season.

Basically story of the season, so far….lacking a striker

Couple of nail biting moments from sloppy play but think on whole we’ve played well.

Yeah, pretty happy with that half. We don't have a proper striker but that isn't news.

Played ok, need more up front but that’s the story of our lives.

Can easily see us being caught out on a transition. If not that then someone will make a mistake and it will be curtains. Already seen some players mistime a bounce and slip over as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...

Had chances, not taken them.

We go again next season.

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:haha: ....the game isn't even over yet