‘I’m just saying’: Thierry Henry says whether Arsenal really have a chance of beating Real Madrid in the UCL

Thierry Henry would have been smiling from ear to ear after Arsenal annihilated PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the first leg of the Round 16 clash between both sides in the Champions League.

There were plenty of reasons for Arsenal to be delighted after their emphatic victory.

As Mikel Arteta stated, Ethan Nwaneri impressed against PSV and is growing from strength to strength.

Eddie Nketiah hailed Myles Lewis-Skelly’s display against PSV as well, who is another academy graduate who continues to look the part in the first-team.

But for Mikel Arteta, the main source of satisfaction will be that Arsenal have more or less qualified for the quarter-finals after beating PSV.

But the Gunners will face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the next round of the Champions League, with the reigning champions of Europe currently leading 2-1 in the tie.

Thierry Henry says Arsenal can beat Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid

With the experience that both Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid have in Europe’s elite competition, Arsenal will have to reserve two of their best performances in years to beat either side.

In the Champions League in particular, pedigree is priceless and it could go against Mikel Arteta’s side who only made a return to competition in 2023 after a six-year absence.

Thierry Henry was asked by Jamie Carragher whether Arsenal could give either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid “a run for their money” in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Henry said on CBS Sports that his former club can: “Yes, they can, yes, I do believe that.”

“This is why I called it, I’m just saying now, show us that you can do that against a good team with people that are coming back, no disrespect to Eindhoven, I really thought it would be difficult, especially away from home. But it was proven easy, I think they had an outstanding game as we can see with the result.”

Thierry Henry believes that while a two-legged tie against Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid will not be an easy task for Arsenal, their statement victory against PSV could give them the confidence needed to have their say in the Champions League this season.

“But we all know that the league is over, right, we can say or you’re [Jamie Carragher] not going to say that? Yeah, the league is over, you won that apart from if something crazy happens but what I’m trying to say is that this game can help maybe to be confident in this competition. But the game you have after, it’s Real Madrid or Atletico.”

“Sometimes, I think the path to go to the final can at times help, obviously at that one, not but if you want to win the competition, you have to go through those teams.”

Arsenal record vs Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid

Bukayo Saka could return from injury in April and so might Gabriel Martinelli, who will be crucial additions to the North Londoners’ side if they happen to play either of the Madrid clubs.

The Gunners have a mixed bag of a record against both teams.

In their two meetings against Real Madrid, Arsenal have drawn one game and won the other while against Atletico Madrid, they were defeated once and drew the other contest.

Thierry Henry was the man of the moment for Arsenal against Real Madrid in 2006 and Mikel Arteta will need one of his attackers to step up like the Frenchman did if they wish to do a number on the Spanish giants.

While Atletico Madrid did beat the English club in 2018, they were miles away from the side they are today and a potential first meeting in the Champions League could possibly yield a different outcome.

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