Arsenal take on Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final looking to pull off one of the biggest wins in the Emirates Stadium era. The last time the pair met was back in 2006 when Thierry Henry scored to give the Gunners a 1-0 aggregate win.
Fast forward, and yet again, a depleted Arsenal side are looking to take on Los Blancos with hopes of pulling off a special result. Instead of Philippe Senderos covering for Sol Campbell, it could be Jakub Kiwior in place of Gabriel Magalhaes.
Equally, there is a decision to make up front as well – Leandro Trossard or Mikel Merino. Well, Mikel Arteta will be the man making that choice, but the football.london writers have had their say on the picks too.
Tom Canton
This might be the biggest night I can remember at the Emirates Stadium since the 2-1 win over Barcelona in 2011 and should they win it could certainly eclipse that. It will be incredibly tough and Mikel Arteta knows exactly what is ahead of him.
Gabriel Magalhaes is missing in what is an absolute nightmare for the club in the week before the game. The decision is for me made more tricky by Jakub Kiwior’s performance at Everton but I am most comfortable playing Jurrien Timber and Ben White alongside William Saliba and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
I have gone with Mikel Merino up top over Leandro Trossard. I think this team needs a target man and the Spaniard offers that and has plenty of knowledge of his opponent too. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli complete the forward line with an untouched midfield.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Real Madrid – Raya; Timber, White, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
Sam Truelove
What a night Tuesday will be. Emirates Stadium will be bouncing and Arsenal’s players should be well up for this.
One of the big calls Mikel Arteta faces is who to play at right-back. Jurrien Timber has been fantastic this season but I’m going with Ben White here. I just think the Englishman can help bring out the best in Bukayo Saka, while he also offers greater attacking threat, in my opinion.
Another big call Arteta has to make is who to partner William Saliba with at centre-back. I think it should be Jakub Kiwior as it’s not the game to be experimenting. Myles Lewis-Skelly makes up the rest of the defence.
In midfield and it should be the trio of Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Jorginho may be valuable across the two legs from the bench should Arsenal find themselves ahead and need to control the game.
Saka should start from the off on the right wing. With White’s overlapping runs, the Hale Ender could have some joy down Madrid’s left. Mikel Merino continues in the striker role but Leandro Trossard should have a say in proceedings at some point. Gabriel Martinelli, who has looked electric in recent outings, completes the line-up.
Truelove’s Arsenal XI vs Real Madrid – Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
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- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
