The clock is ticking down to Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final clash against Real Madrid.
Mikel Arteta’s side will come up against the reigning European champions in the quarter-final of the Champions League.
Naturally, Los Blancos will be feared; however, Arsenal have given Real Madrid a reason to be wary, with the Spanish club yet to get the better of the Gunners competitively.
Already, the Arsenal squad are curious about Real Madrid and what Carlo Ancelotti’s side could bring to the tie, in what is thought to be Arteta’s only chance at silverware this season.
Kylian Mbappe reveals Real Madrid’s weakness
Thierry Henry has demanded confidence from Arsenal against Real Madrid, despite the magnitude of the opponent.
Arteta will echo the Arsenal legend’s call, with the reality being that the Gunners will be tested at the level they want to consistently compete at.
Putting the stature of the Spanish club aside, Arsenal have a reason to fear Ancelotti’s squad on the pitch, but equally, they have a reason to fear the North Londoners.
Most recently, Real Madrid had to come from being 2-1 down against 18th-place Leganes to win at the Bernabeu, a game that led Kylian Mbappe to comment on his team’s weaknesses.
Speaking to RMTV, Mbappe said, “It was a difficult match. After the international break, it’s always difficult.
“We know what we always have to do: win. We started well in the opposition half, and we scored a goal. Then we didn’t play well for 20 minutes and conceded two goals.”
The Frenchman highlighted the repercussions of Madrid not performing at their best, in which Ancelotti’s side conceded two goals against a squad struggling to score after their promotion.
Arsenal must exploit Real Madrid
It wasn’t all doom and gloom from Mbappe and Real Madrid, who turned the game around.
“We know that if we play well we’ll score and in the second half we scored two goals. We won the game and we’re very happy,” the former PSG ace admitted.
With respect to Leganes, securing a comeback at home to a relegation-threatened side should be expected from a club of Real Madrid’s size.
If the cracks were to show as they did against Arsenal, perhaps the scoreline would be less forgiving.
What the North Londoners must do is take advantage of any slips Madrid make in the tie, emphasising the need for Arteta to improve how efficient his players are in front of goal.
Arsenal must take on board Mbappe’s admission, with the Gunners more than capable of troubling the European champions, just as Leganes did in LaLiga.