Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has disclosed that his teammates have been inquiring about the ‘aura’ of Real Madrid in anticipation of their upcoming Champions League quarter-final match. The Gunners are set to face the 15-time champions of the tournament next month, with both teams having taken different paths to reach the last eight.
Real Madrid finished the league phase in 11th place after eight matches, necessitating a playoff against Manchester City. They successfully navigated this challenge, defeating the Premier League champions with relative ease. However, their round of 16 encounter against local rivals Atletico Madrid proved to be much more challenging, as they quickly lost their one-goal advantage from the first leg and required a stroke of luck in the penalty shootout to progress.
In contrast, Arsenal triumphed over PSV Eindhoven with an impressive aggregate score of 9-3. During the ongoing international break, Merino has returned to Spain, where he is mingling with some of the Real players he will face on April 8 at the Emirates and April 16 at the Bernabeu. The second leg of the matchup has generated considerable discussion among Arsenal players, with the midfielder acknowledging that Real’s history of making comebacks at the Bernabeu is well-known and cannot be overlooked.
“They ask me what the stadium is like, what the atmosphere is like, if the aura surrounding Real Madrid in the Champions League and their comebacks is true,” Merino told Spanish radio station Onda Cero. “And of course, when they’ve done it so many times, that’s the image people have of them.”
Asked who’s the favourite for the tie, the 28-year-old replied: “Talking about favourites is very difficult because the Champions League shows you that the details make the difference. There are three or four teams that can be considered favourites, but you can’t just pick one.”
Although the first leg in north London is just under two weeks away, boss Mikel Arteta has already told his players how they can overcome holders Real. “The first thing is that you have to be at your best when it comes to that for the two games, for every minute,” Arteta said.
“Don’t give anything away, because they’re going to take it. And today, we’ve seen that with the two goals that we’ve conceded as well, so that’s a big learning.
“In the end, the game is going to be decided in the boxes, individual talent, individual performances is crucial, and then creating an unbelievable atmosphere when we have the opportunity to play at home, that is crucial.”
Arsenal’s immediate focus is on two Premier League fixtures. They will host Fulham before traveling to face Everton.
In between their encounters with Real, Arsenal will play a home match against Brentford. The Gunners face a significant challenge in the Premier League title race, currently trailing Liverpool by 12 points with just nine matches remaining. Their recent 1-0 victory at home against Chelsea helps maintain their competitiveness, but the team’s primary attention is directed towards their European campaign.
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