Arteta: Arsenal Ready to Take on Real Madrid in Champions League Quarterfinals

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaks ahead of Champions League quarterfinals match against Real Madrid, urging his team to 'create their own story'.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has issued a rallying cry to his team as they prepare to face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals. Ahead of the crucial first leg at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta is urging his players to “create their own story” and make a lasting impact in the competition. The Gunners are on a quest to win their first European trophy, and Arteta believes that this is a defining moment for the team. With a strong sense of determination and focus, Arsenal is ready to take on the challenge and make a statement in the Champions League.

Mikel Arteta provided some welcome news ahead of Arsenal's Champions League showdown with Real Madrid, giving fans a boost of confidence. “Yeah, it looks like it (everyone is available),” Arteta said, confirming that his squad is largely fit and ready for the big match. He added that the team had a good recovery session after their last game, with defender Ben White being declared fit after finishing the previous match without any issues.

Arteta also expressed his confidence in his team's mentality, which he believes will be crucial in this high-stakes encounter. The Spanish manager is convinced that Arsenal has the mental toughness to overcome the challenge posed by the champions and progress to the next round. He seems to be banking on his team's ability to rise to the occasion and deliver a strong performance against a top opponent like Real Madrid.

”8pm tomorrow night, 11 players, 60,000 people, really super convinced that we are ready to win and to beat them. That's the mindset that I want. 

“The rest, be the team that we have been the last quarter of the season, with all the up and downs and things that we have to deal with, continue to do that because that's our super strength. 

“I think they are convinced (the players), if I have to convince them I think we have a problem. They know exactly what they have to do.”

Bukayo Saka has made a welcome return to the Arsenal squad in recent weeks, and manager Mikel Arteta was asked about his availability to start against Real Madrid. “He is in a much better place,” Arteta said, adding that Saka has been gradually increasing his playing time over the past six or seven days. “Gradually we have built his minutes in the last six or seven days, he has coped with that really well and he is in a good place to be able to be used.”

Embrace the stage. pic.twitter.com/YYLSbLlt2D

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 7, 2025

Arteta then turned his attention to the challenge posed by Real Madrid, highlighting the importance of securing a lead in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium. He emphasized that having an advantage ahead of the second leg in Madrid would be crucial, as many teams have found it impossible to overcome a deficit against the Spanish giants. Arteta's words suggest that Arsenal will need to be clinical and ruthless in their pursuit of a positive result, if they are to have any chance of progressing to the next round.

“There are things that we cannot control - what they are going to prepare, what they can do - we have to focus and our energy has to be on that understanding our strengths, our weakness and the direction that we want to play in the game. 

💬 "At these stages, you need your home stadium to create a very, very special atmosphere to generate momentum. So, let's go. I encourage everybody to go there tomorrow to play the game with us."

Bring the noise tomorrow, Gooners 🔊

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 7, 2025

”Very important, but it will be just the first leg, so obviously the intention of the team is very clear, we want to achieve tomorrow, and we are going to go for it.”

Mikel Arteta was asked about the significance of the match against Real Madrid, and he acknowledged that it's a huge opportunity for his team. “It is one of the most special things,” he said, emphasizing the importance of the Champions League quarterfinals. Arteta noted that Arsenal has only reached this stage twice in the past 15 years, highlighting the difficulty of competing at this level.

However, Arteta is determined to make the most of this chance. “The fact we have only been twice at this stage in 15 years with the size of Arsenal Football Club says the difficulty of that and we are going to create our own story and go even further,” he said. Arteta sees Tuesday's match as a chance for his team to prove themselves and make a statement. “Tomorrow is a beautiful opportunity to all of us,” he added, conveying his excitement and anticipation for the big game.

Arteta also addressed the challenge posed by Real Madrid's potent attack, featuring stars like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. He discussed his strategy for containing their threat and preventing his team from being overpowered by the Spanish giants' attacking prowess.

“With the individual qualities that they have, especially when you put them in certain situations, you know the danger you are facing. That's why consistently they have been doing what they've been doing in this competition.

“They can create those moments, and when it comes to the biggest stage, individual performance play can decide the games, are critical for your successes, and it is something we have to prevent for sure.”