Arsenal

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

BBC Sport has looked into the stats of the Champions League quarter-finalists and where they rank among the eight teams remaining.

Only Barcelona have scored more goals per game and been more clinical in front of goal than Arsenal.

The Gunners have not been the most dominant in attack though, with only Aston Villa and Inter Milan creating fewer shots and xG [expected goals] per game.

Arsenal have one of the meanest defences in the competition - while Inter have conceded fewer goals per game, the Gunners have the best defence in terms of xG conceded.

Despite their star-studded cast, Real Madrid's attack has been good so far, but not great.

Remarkably, the holders have the worst defence out of the teams left in the competition - giving up the most goals, shots and xG per game.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast about Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid: "It's a real test. It's where you want to be, you want to see if you can handle yourself. It was a strong team against Everton but you can tell the focus is on tonight's team.

"Arsenal missed Bukayo Saka when he was out - as soon as he came back he had an impact. He has to start to have an influence on the team but he is fresh and looks ready to go.

"Gabriel will be missed. He is one of our best players, him being out is a big blow.

"The attacking play of Real Madrid is so powerful, we know we have to be at our best, but a win tonight is not beyond this team. When they all play at their best, they are very effective."

A special episode of The Football News Show has taken a close look at the Champions League, with Arsenal set to take on Real Madrid in an eye-catching tie.

Take in what fan Alex Moneypenny had to say below and watch the show in full here.

Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Saturday's 1-1 draw at Everton felt less like a Premier League fixture with meaning, and more like a prelude to Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

Arsenal, perhaps still reeling from the loss of Gabriel, looked like a side on damage limitation. With the exception of Leandro Trossard's pinpoint finish in the 35th minute, the Gunners produced the type of performance fans have grown familiar with all season - all bark and no bite.

To state the obvious, they will need to be better on Tuesday. A match-up drenched in European glamour, this is the first time in many years that Arsenal will face true European royalty in the 15-times winners of Europe's biggest club prize.

There is reason for cautious optimism. Real Madrid, for all of their European heritage, have lost twice in their past five games, notably conceding four goals against Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey.

It is a fascinating match-up where both teams' problem areas will face off. In the red corner, Arsenal, who have failed to carve out clear chances all season. And in the white corner, Los Blancos, who have conceded nine goals across two heavy defeats against their title rivals Barcelona this season. Both teams have flaws.

For global football fans, Real Madrid have always been home to superstars. This particular edition is no different, with Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe all likely to cause Arsenal problems. But Arsenal have their own superstar in Bukayo Saka, whose return from injury represents a major opportunity to unlock Real Madrid's defence.

In addition, with Ben White potentially returning from injury, the combination of Martin Odegaard, Saka and White on the right-hand side presents the perfect option to get behind Real Madrid's backline.

This season, slowly edging towards disappointment, could still have a twist left in it.

Find more from Laura Kirk-Francis at the Latte Firm podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal fan Rakeem Noble spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live before Tuesday's Champions League match against Real Madrid: "These are two teams who are historically very good but aren't doing as well as they could do currently.

"The Champions League could be the saving grace for both teams for the rest of the season.

"We're going to have to rely on a bit of Emirates magic, because it is going to be hard, no doubt. With the form of both teams, there is nothing to say that Arsenal can't get the job done.

"To keep the Real Madrid frontline quiet is an extremely challenging task, but one thing I've noticed about them is their attack is a lot better than their defence. We shouldn't sit back, we need to test their back line."

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool slipped at the weekend, but they would need to deliberately hurl themselves off the edge of a cliff to blow the title this season. It ain't going to happen.

A major reason is that Arsenal have been unable to sustain the pressure and much of that is down to not having a backup striker, or indeed an out and out striker at all.

Back up strikers are important, though hard to find. Natural goalscorers are a selfish bunch, so asking a quality one to be an understudy waiting for the real star to dry up isn't simple but it is necessary.

When Kai Havertz got injured the short term answer of Mikel Merino up top might have given hope to the Gunners but the recent league form in front of goal has been damning for the title pretenders.

Only five goals scored while winning just two of the past six league games, and scraping only nine points from 18, simply isn't good enough.

It is time for Mikel Arteta to focus on beating Real Madrid, who have got one or two players capable of scoring a goal, I hear. Meanwhile Liverpool can continue to rummage about in the back of cupboards searching for those beach towels.

No one is piling on the pressure.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Image source, Getty Images

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has said Mikel Arteta has done a "fantastic job" building a "complete" team at Arsenal.

The Gunners face Real in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

"There aren't many teams that I would say are complete in Europe," said the Italian. "He's built a complete team.

"There are lots of teams who do certain things very well but there aren't many that do everything as well as Arsenal do.

"He's doing a fantastic job. He is near the top of the Premier League, he's in the quarter-final of the Champions League."

Arteta has been manager of Arsenal for more than five years, but the FA Cup in 2020 is his only trophy success with the club to date.

"Arsenal are close to winning the Premier League," Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois added.

"They play well, have a young team and a nice blend of experienced players too. They defend well, press high, are good at the low block and are quick on the counter and have players who can score easily."

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discussed Arsenal's chances of progressing against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

"I think he [Mikel Arteta] now has the knowledge and tactics to go up against the top [teams]," said former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown.

"How does he approach it? I don't think he needs to overthink it. Sometimes in these situations, Arteta can go a little bit too deep to try and find a result or a system.

"I fancy them, I really do. I think they can get a result."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Mike Peter
BBC Sport Journalist

The touchlines are tight here, but that wasn't going to stop Mikel Arteta - he still squeezed out of his technical area almost 50% more than opposite number David Moyes.

Anywhere close to the action was Arteta's domain, with his coaches, particularly set-piece lead Nicolas Jover, having to venture out to join him twice as much as Everton's backroom staff had to find Moyes. Jover, just as much an animated presence as his manager, immediately took up position in the very corner of the technical area for any set-piece.

Moyes ventured around his area more freely, often stepping back in his box to discuss matters with his staff, and even taking a seat on the bench - something Arteta never did.

Nor was the dugout the only place the veteran Scot sat down - he was perched on a drinks cooler in the corner of his area when Everton scored their equalising penalty.

See what all the other managers did

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We asked whether you agree with the Opta supercomputer, which gave Arsenal marginally more chance to win their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

Here are some of your comments:

Martin: Real Madrid are Real Madrid, especially in the Champions League. But they're leaky defensively and are likely to play a high line. Arsenal will need a sizeable lead to take to Madrid, and will need to defend solidly at the Bernabeu.

Derek: With Arsenal anything could happen, but not with the way they have played this season.

Ken: Really, Opta?! You're giving a team which hasn't won anything for quite some time a greater chance than a serial winning machine in Real Madrid? Arsenal have no pedigree of winning the biggest trophy in their history, and have a recent track record of choking in crucial matches at the business end, both in the league and in the League Cup semi final. Arsenal have a chance but I'll believe it when I see it.

Laura: Yes, the prediction is right. Arsenal will make it to the semi-final of the Champions League.

Guy: Arsenal could barely score against the Everton defence, never mind the Real Madrid stars. Our defence is also leaking goals and Mbappe, Vini Jr and Bellingham are going to take advantage.

Image source, Opta

The Opta supercomputer has produced new predictions for the remainder of the Champions League before the quarter-final stage gets under way on Tuesday.

Favourites heading into the last 16, Liverpool were eliminated by Paris St-Germain, with Barcelona now leading the way - emerging victorious in 23.9% of simulations.

The model estimates the probability of each match outcome by using betting market odds and the Opta Power Rankings., external

The computer makes Arsenal slight favourites to reach the semi-finals over Real Madrid - 50.2% to 49.8% - with the Gunners winning the competition in 15.6% of simulations compared to Real's 12.2%.

This places Mikel Arteta's side as the third-most likely team to win the Champions League behind Barcelona and PSG, according to Opta's model.

Madrid lost 2-1 at home to Valencia on Saturday, leaving them four points behind rivals Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Arsenal fans, what do you make of Opta's predictions? Do you think the Gunners will progress or will the defending champions prove too strong?

Let us know here

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka says Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid was a focal point for his recovery after hamstring surgery in December.

As he began his rehabilitation, the goal was to not only be back in the fold for this match but to be "back and in good shape".

"If you ask my physios then there was a lot of conversation around this game and wanting to be back and in good shape," said the England international. "I spent a lot of months working massively towards it.

"We are here now, so I am excited.

"I feel good. Obviously you can't define nature and you need to get on the pitch and get your minutes up, but I feel like in the past two games I have gone from strength to strength."

Arsenal, who host the Champions League holders in the first leg of the quarter-final, have not reached the semi-finals since 2008-09 and were knocked out at the same stage last season by Bayern Munich.

"We need to take the next step and get over the line," Saka added. "It's Real Madrid, we respect their history but on Tuesday anything can happen.

"It is a big night and the stakes are high against one of the best teams in the competition."

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Champions League game against Real Madrid (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There are no new injury concerns, with Arteta hopeful Jurrien Timber will be fit enough to play. Bukayo Saka "is in a good position" after building up his minutes over the past week.

• Arteta said Arsenal have found a solution to Gabriel's absence but did not disclose who or what that may be.

• On what he wants to see from his team: "We are super convinced that at 20:00 on Tuesday we are ready to win and beat them. It's been 20 years since we have had this type of game so it is a great opportunity to build our own story. This is what we are here for."

• He said it is "100% a joy" to be involved "in a game of such magnitude" and occasions like Tuesday's are one of the main reasons he went into management.

• On needing a bit of luck against the Spanish giants after a rather "unlucky" season: "I think we deserve it but we have to earn it. We are going to put all the ingredients in our hand to take the game in the direction we want."

• His message to the fans: "We will need our people to play every single ball with us. We need the home stadium to create special atmosphere to generate momentum. Play the game with us, don't just watch it. The confidence that can give you, there is nothing that can replicate that."

• He acknowledged the "danger" that Real Madrid possess and how they "can create those moments" to turn games around, adding: "It is something we have to prevent, for sure."

• He said they will draw upon the experience they gained from playing Bayern Munich last season and "be ruthless and put the game to bed".

Follow all of Monday's football news

Image source, Getty Images

This will be only the third meeting between Arsenal and Real Madrid in European competition, following their Champions League last-16 tie in 2005-06. Arsenal won 1-0 on aggregate.

Arsenal have held their lead for longer than any other team in the Champions League this season (568 minutes overall), while only Inter Milan (five minutes) have trailed for fewer minutes than the Gunners (65 minutes) in this season's competition.

The only English player to start in a Champions League quarter-final while aged 18 or younger is Jude Bellingham. Arsenal pair Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri (both aged 18) could become the only players other than Bellingham to do so in this game.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Everton and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Terry: It was a poor game but we will take the point and move on. It's going to be a big summer because we need quality all over the pitch, but there's enough good players in the squad to give us a solid base. One more game ticked off. The countdown to the Southampton game is on, which is going to be so emotional.

Mike: An excellent performance from a team with increasing belief made this great result possible. David Moyes has once again built a side that looks greater than the sum of its parts.

Stephen: They battled bravely but the class gap could be seen. Hopefully we spend money in the closed season.

Chris: We have forgotten how to win again! Six games and counting. The early Moyes effect has worn off and we are back to be being an average team, with below average players! A massive rebuild is required in the summer and I'm doubting now if Moyes is the right man to take us forward.

Arsenal fans

Jim: Poor game again. Mikel Arteta's philosophy of not wanting to lose a game just stifles us in trying to win. We will get battered by Real Madrid. I do think his time is nearly up.

Osato: I think Arsenal played well and probably should've won with more goals, but that Everton penalty was a very wrong decision in my opinion. I think the standard of refereeing in the Premier League has been lowered and VAR isn't helping like it is supposed to.

Rachel: It's clear that Arsenal are going to desperately miss Gabriel for the remainder of the season. He is the cheerleader of the team, the backbone, the motivator, the monster defender and the one we can least afford to lose out of everyone. I think we'll struggle to win another game without him. He is the beating heart of Arsenal and a massive loss.

Simon: Arsenal have clearly thrown in the towel on winning the Premier League. They are just not clinical enough and are lacking the hunger to be champions.

Arsenal and Liverpool are set to be among the main teams trying to sign Crystal Palace and England midfielder Eberechi Eze, 26, this summer. (Caughtoffside), external

The Gunners are willing to pay the £17m (20m euros) buyout clause of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia after interest from clubs in Serie A and the Bundesliga in the 23-year-old Spaniard. (El Nacional - in Spanish), external

Newcastle, Tottenham, AC Milan, Napoli and Barcelona. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

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