Arsenal will face off against Real Madrid in the first leg of the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal qualified for the quarterfinal of the tournament by beating PSV by a margin of 9-3 in aggregate over both legs. Meanwhile, Real Madrid knocked out their arch-rivals, Atletico Madrid, in the penalty shootout in the second leg of the Round of 16 at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Gabriel Jesus (knee), Kai Havertz (hamstring), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring), and Riccardo Calafiori will miss the game for the Gunners due to injuries. Raheem Sterling will be banned for this game. Bukayo Saka is expected to be back in the playing XI. Moreover, Mikel Merino should be fit for this game as well, after suffering a cut to his head in the previous game. Let us take a look at the predicted lineup of Arsenal against Real Madrid.
4-3-3 Arsenal Predicted Lineup Against Real Madrid:
Defence:
David Raya has been the first-choice goalkeeper of Arsenal this season, and he will be expected to start in goal yet again against Real Madrid. Jurrien Timber should make his comeback in the playing XI as a right-back, and he will be well supported by Myles Anthony Lewis-Skelly in the left-back position. William Saliba will be expected to hold the fort for Arsenal, playing as the right centre-back, and Jakub Kiwior will replace Magalhaes as the left centre-back in this game.
Midfield:
Thomas Partey will be expected to play as the central defensive midfielder and break the counterattacks from the Real Madrid attackers that are so good with them. Martin Odegaard will be back in the playing XI, and he will be a vital boost for Arsenal. The former Real Madrid man will help his current team create goals against his former club. Declan Rice is expected to play as the left central midfielder and dictate the tempo of the game with his box-to-box runs.
Attack:
The biggest boost for Arsenal will be the return of Bukayo Saka in the right-wing position. The Englishman, when fit, has been the main man for the team as he takes on full-backs, creates and scores the goal. He is very much vital to Arsenal’s progress into the semi-final of the tournament. Gabriel Martinelli is expected to play as the left winger and trouble Lucas Vazquez, who is expected to play as the right-back for Real Madrid. Mikel Merino, who has thrived in the makeshift centre-forward role, will be tasked to carry out a big responsibility against Madrid.
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