Arsenal and Real Madrid are set to lock horns for only the second time in the two clubs’ histories.
Remarkably, Arsenal and Madrid have only ever met in European competition once before, so there may be an air of uncertainty around the Madrid camp about what this game will be like.
Thierry Henry was the difference-maker in that first meeting almost 20 years ago, and Henry thinks Arsenal can get through in this tie.
One player who knows all about Arsenal is Antonio Rudiger.
The German spent a number of years in the Premier League playing against Arsenal for Chelsea, and speaking to Real Madrid’s TikTok page ahead of this game, the German has shared what he’s expecting from this match.
What Antonio Rudiger is expecting from Arsenal
Rudiger spoke about what he’s expecting from Arsenal in this match.
The defender says that he expects a difficult game here, especially away from home, but he wants his Madrid side to come out of the blocks strong against the Gunners.
“I would expect, as usual, the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the first game is away from home, so you have to expect a difficult match, but we want to come out strong because we know what we’re capable of doing.”
Antonio Rudiger’s record vs Arsenal
Rudiger says he expects a difficult game from Arsenal, and he has past experience of these sorts of games.
Indeed, Arsenal have never given Rudiger an easy ride of it. In fact, the German has lost more times than he’s won against the Gunners in his career.
| Antonio Rudiger record vs Arsenal | |
| Games | 9 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Goals conceded | 14 |
| Clean sheets | 2 |
Rudiger also knows just how good some of Arsenal’s players are.
Rudiger would love William Saliba to sign for Real Madrid, and that may well end up being a reality at some point as Saliba has been linked to Madrid in recent times.
Of course, Arsenal do have a mountain to climb in the Champions League as they desperately try to get past Madrid, and salvage a piece of major silverware from what looks set to be a baren season on that front.
