Real Madrid will be backed by the masses to beat Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals and perhaps rightfully so, considering they have won the competition twice in the past three seasons.
Rio Ferdinand predicted Real Madrid to topple Arsenal over both legs and go through to the semi-finals as well as the Manchester United legend admitted he would “surprised” if the Gunners emerge as the victors.
But Mikel Arteta is unlikely to be bothered by such comments.
Instead, Arteta will be relishing his tactical battle with Carlo Ancelotti as Tuesday’s contest is undoubtedly the biggest of his career.
The Spaniard has every reason to believe that Arsenal can defeat Real Madrid as the game will already be lost if the hosts do not back themselves to come out on top at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal’s players are itching to face Real Madrid and regardless of the eventual outcome, to even be a part of such a blockbuster fixture would be an honour for Mikel Arteta’s players.
Arsenal could beat Real Madrid by taking advantage of their set-piece weakness
It is fair to state Real Madrid have much more experience and quality than Arsenal and it would certainly be a shock if Mikel Arteta’s side ended up on the winning side.
But Arsenal could stun Real Madrid and win the first leg as their strength is the visitors’ glaring weakness: set-pieces.
Los Blancos struggle to defend set-pieces and this season alone, they have conceded 10 goals from corners.
Meanwhile, Arsenal specialise at scoring set-pieces and since last season, they have scored a staggering 27.
Declan Rice is an excellent set-piece taker and in William Saliba and Mikel Merino — they have players who can score from such situations despite Gabriel Magalhaes’ injury — who is their biggest aerial threat.
If Bukayo Saka is ready to start, his delivery from corners especially is extremely accurate and Arsenal could cause Real Madrid plenty of problems if he decides to whip the ball into the box.
Mikel Arteta’s Bukayo Saka fitness update as he could expose Real Madrid’s set-piece woes
The bad news for Real Madrid is that Mikel Arteta has revealed that Saka is in a “much better place” from a fitness standpoint and considering he played the entirety of the second-half against Everton, he could very well start.
Arteta said via BeanymanSports: “Well, he’s in a much better place. Gradually, we have built his minutes in the last six or seven days and he’s in a good place to be able to be used.”
Mikel Arteta’s revelation suggests that Saka could be set to start against Real Madrid — who has provided seven assists from set-pieces in the Premier League this season.
While Ancelotti could start David Alaba up against Saka to keep him quiet, perhaps the Austrian may be deemed powerless if the Spanish giants continue to concede set-pieces.
