• The Arsenal

  • Arsenal v Real Madrid | UCL QF 1st Leg | Tuesday 8 April 8pm UK time | Prime

Biggest game of the season so far and it is on Prime.

Back to back UCL quarter finals is nothing to be sniffed at. Can we go 1 step further against the star studded Real?

Let's play well and give a good account of ourselves. I think we can nick it 2-1.

Saka did the press conference with Arteta. Hopefully he will get 60mins. Arteta confirmed White and Timber available and he knows who will start at LCB. I think he will stick with Kiwior with Timber RB and MLS LB. Merino upfront and Saka Marti on wings.

Arteta also said this is the biggest game of his managerial career so far. Let's see how he fares.

Come on Arsenal!

    Panda changed the title to Arsenal v Real Madrid | UCL QF 1st Leg | Tuesday 8 April 8pm UK | Prime .
    Panda changed the title to Arsenal v Real Madrid | UCL QF 1st Leg | Tuesday 8 April 8pm UK time | Prime .

    Panda Saka did the press conference with Arteta. Hopefully he will get 60mins.

    Followed by an amazing cameo from Nwaneri. Thats my prediction anyway, Ethan to announce himself to the world.

        Our season's dead, and this is our chance to do a bit of freaky necromancy and bring it back to life.

        That feels less wrong to me than saying our season's hanging on by a thread, and this is our chance to do a bit of freaky surgery and keep it from dying.

        Partey vs Bellingham
        Rice vs Valverde
        Odegaard vs Tchouemeni

        Feels like we have the advantage in midfield, and if Rice got going we could really tilt the field. But I do think Bellingham will be tricky as he'll operate in between where Odegaard and Partey typically defend.

        Martinelli vs Vasquez and Saka vs Garcia/Camivinga.....lots to like there, just need to ensure we have the possession to push them back.

        Oddly hopeful.

        Real are woeful lately. If there's ever a chance to beat them, it's now. With or without our injuries

          naz they're just saving it for the CL.

              Real certainly never go out without a fight.

              Can’t really see where the magic comes from in our side to beat them. The way would be to controlball the heck out of them

              I watch Real weekly and they rarely impress me. However they mostly end up winning matches in a way only Madrid can. They have an amazing attack but playing Bellingham, Vinicius, Mbappe and Rodrygo all at the same time often leave them exposed and teams with a good transition game have often hurt them. Unfortunately, we we are very mediocre on transitions - this really needs to be sorted out in the summer. One area we can hurt them though is on set pieces, they have looked dodgy on them all season. Too bad our biggest threat on set pieces is injured, quelle surprise!

              I was quietly confident that we'll knock them out but Gabriel's injury has really diminished our chances of progressing. I still wouldn't be overly surprised if we comfortably turn them over tomorrow. Their attack vs Kiwior is a big worry but we are a very dangerous team. I hope our players aren't overawed by the occasion or give them too much respect. I have often seen lesser teams trouble them this season. We are more than capable of giving them a game.

                Coombs poor mentality if that's the case. They're a few points behind Barcelona

                  naz That or there will be some ridiculous own goal or howler. Said it in the Everton thread, but I can't see any scenario where we don't get fucked by some new and unprecedented red card or penalty in the 2nd leg if the tie is still in the balance.

                    I feel Madrid will go through 85% of the time so I'm not going in expecting us to get the result. I think Madrid do have weakness but the way we setup we are not a team that seems likely to make the most of them we are slow in attack and very cautious with a focus on trying to be difficult to beat first. If we concede a goal we are usually in big trouble so it needs a flawless application of our game.

                    Unfortunately our best attackers either have just returned from injury or haven't been in form. Then having lost Gabriel who has been so important particularly as I think Saliba has been a bit weaker this season I don't fancy that we don't concede and if so I don't think we can respond. Maybe we'll catch them all on an off day which can happen or we are perfect on the way we play but I just don't think it's likely we don't switch off or get tired at some point.

                    I'll still be at this game and the away game hoping we manage to execute a game we've struggled with for the most part.

                      I can't wait to embarrass these guys. This will be Saka's coronation

                      • naz likes this.