Arsenal may be walking into the lion’s den on Wednesday, but there is no real sense of jeopardy if they approach the game with the clarity and courage that has defined their season.
Real Madrid’s aura at the Santiago Bernabeu is real, as Manchester City and Chelsea can attest, but mystique alone will not drag them back from a 3-0 deficit. Not against a side as organised, disciplined and emotionally mature as this Arsenal group.
Mikel Arteta was direct in his assessment: “To win it. The same that we did in London.” There is no attempt to sit on the lead or coast through the occasion. Arsenal are going to play the game on their terms, or at least try to.
The noise around a potential remontada is predictable. Madrid are steeped in these moments and will feed off the occasion. But for all the history, the holders were completely outplayed last week, both tactically and physically.
Declan Rice’s brace was the headline, but it was the control Arsenal showed in and out of possession that made the difference. They were compact without the ball, patient with it, and lethal when the moments arrived.
Madrid, by contrast, looked leggy and out of sync. Jude Bellingham said the word buzzing around their dressing room is “comeback,” but they will need more than adrenaline to undo the damage inflicted at the Emirates.
They also have a concerning habit of conceding in Europe. Real have let in at least one goal in each of their last 10 Champions League home matches. That vulnerability is music to Arsenal’s ears, especially with the confidence flowing through the team.
Arteta has no interest in managing fear. “Respect, admiration for what they’ve done – but after that it’s the competition,” he said. That balance between reverence and realism is vital.
Ben White is back, Thomas Partey is fit, and the collective belief is as strong as ever. “We have to be excited about it. You have to be convinced about what you want to achieve,” Arteta added.
This is not a moment to overthink. Arsenal do not need to chase history – they simply need to continue writing it.
Even if Real Madrid strike first, this Arsenal team has shown they can absorb pressure, respond with authority and finish the job. The task is not easy, but it is very much within their grasp.
