Arsenal host Real Madrid in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash at the Emirates.
After going over a decade without getting to the quarter-finals, the Gunners have done it in back-to-back seasons. Mikel Arteta deserves a lot of praise for that.
The task now is to go to the next level, and Arsenal will have to get the better of Real Madrid over two legs to do that this season.
Carlo Ancelotti has explained why his side are better equipped to go through to the semi-finals than Arteta’s Arsenal.
Carlo Ancelotti names the advantage Arsenal have over Real Madrid
Real Madrid are the kings of Europe.
The Galacticos have won the Champions League on 15 different occasions – more than any other club in the history of the competition.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have never lifted the Champions League. The closest they came was in 2006, when Arsene Wenger’s side were beaten by Barcelona in Paris.
Arteta is as confident as he can be ahead of the first-leg on Tuesday night, but Ancelotti thinks his men have a ‘really important’ edge over the Gunners.
In his press conference ahead of the game, Ancelotti was asked if Real Madrid regularly playing in big games at this stage of the Champions League gives them an advantage over Arsenal.
The Italian replied, as relayed on Beanyman Sports: “Experience in this competition is really important. Really, really important.
“The experience, the knowledge because it means you’re not afraid to play these kinds of games that put on you so much pressure because it’s a really important competition, face to face, a lot of pressure in these games.
“The experience is really important. The fact that we have a lot players who have have already played in these kind of games gives the team, the players and the youngsters more confidence.”
Why Arsenal should not be afraid of Real Madrid’s advantage
Real Madrid’s experience at this stage of the Champions League is definitely an advantage.
Most of Ancelotti’s players will not feel the kind of pressure that some of Arteta’s men likely will, and that is a big boost if the game gets emotional.
However, Arsenal would’ve learnt their lesson when they were knocked out by Bayern Munich at the same stage in the 2023/24 season.
The Gunners weren’t bad by any means against the German giants, but their lack of experience is the reason why they were knocked out.
Those two games last season will definitely help the Gunners when they face Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
