As I settled in to watch Arsenal’s game on Wednesday night, my attention kept shifting toward the Madrid Derby.
The magnitude of that encounter was impossible to ignore, knowing that one of those Spanish powerhouses could be our potential opponent in the Champions League quarter-finals.
By the second half, I found myself following both matches simultaneously—Arsenal’s clash on TV and the Madrid Derby streaming on my phone.
The drama unfolded on both fronts. Just as PSV found their second equalizer at the Emirates, Vinícius Júnior sent a penalty soaring over the bar at the Metropolitano.
It was a surprising moment, yet deep down, I had a feeling Real Madrid would somehow find a way to persevere.
Before the matches, I was unsure which Spanish side I would prefer Arsenal to face.
Given our current lack of attacking depth, we would be underdogs regardless of the opponent.
Both Atlético and Real Madrid have extensive knockout-stage experience, yet they approach these high-stakes games in completely different ways.
Many Arsenal fans might have hoped for Atlético to advance, believing that Diego Simeone’s rigid defensive setup could be more predictable to break down than Real Madrid’s relentless attacking threat.
However, when Real Madrid missed their penalty, I felt a wave of unease—it was as if their inevitable success had only been momentarily delayed.
That realization made our path to the semi-finals feel far more daunting.
As Arsenal’s game concluded, my focus fully shifted to the extra time and penalty shootout in Spain.
The tension was overwhelming, and in typical Real Madrid fashion, they found a way to prevail once again.
Simeone, despite enduring yet another painful European exit at the hands of his city rivals, encouraged his players to hold their heads high and acknowledge the fans.
Having spent 14 years in Spanish football, he understands better than anyone the sheer inevitability of Real Madrid’s success in this competition.
Call it fate, luck, or sheer resilience, but Real Madrid always seem to rise to the occasion on these historic European nights.
Carlo Ancelotti may not wield a lucky charm, yet there is something undeniably special about how his team thrives under pressure.
From a neutral perspective, it is fascinating how fortune often swings their way.
Just last night, Atlético’s Álvarez suffered a heartbreaking slip at the worst possible moment, leading to his penalty being disallowed due to a double touch—an error confirmed by VAR.
That single stroke of misfortune shifted the momentum entirely in Real Madrid’s favor.
As if that weren’t cruel enough, Marcos Llorente—no stranger to big moments against Real Madrid—saw his effort send Courtois the wrong way, only for the ball to cannon off the crossbar.
The heartbreak deepened when Oblak, usually so reliable, failed to hold onto a routine save, allowing Real Madrid to secure their place in the next round.
Once again, it felt as though destiny had intervened in their favor.
And history tells us that when Real Madrid survive these tight encounters, they often go on to win the entire competition.
No club shares a deeper connection with the Champions League than Real Madrid.
Since dominating the first five editions of the European Cup, they have built an obsession with this tournament that transcends all else.
While most clubs measure their success by domestic league triumphs, Real Madrid’s legacy is defined by their European conquests.
Even La Liga victories often take a backseat to their Champions League ambitions.
Club president Florentino Pérez has long prioritized European success, occasionally overlooking domestic struggles as long as the team brings the coveted trophy back to the Bernabéu.
Now, Arsenal faces an enormous task. To reach the semi-finals, we must overcome the ultimate Champions League specialists.
Real Madrid has mastered the art of peaking at the right time, transforming into an unstoppable force when the final stages of the competition approach.
While their journey this season has had its stumbles—finishing 11th in the group stage rankings and relying on the playoffs to reach the last 16—they always find another level when the stakes are highest.
Despite earlier defeats to Liverpool, Milan, and Lille, they now look poised for another deep run.
Arsenal enters this tie as clear underdogs. Unlike Real Madrid, we cannot rely on history, fate, or a deep-seated European pedigree.
Instead, we must be ruthlessly efficient, far more clinical than we have been in our domestic campaign.
Some argue that facing Real Madrid could be beneficial in one sense—we won’t have to break down a deep defensive block, as both teams are likely to engage in open, attacking football.
However, that also means our backline will be under immense pressure.
Real Madrid boasts a world-class attacking lineup featuring Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, and Rodrygo.
Meanwhile, Arsenal has had to rely on a midfielder to lead the forward line and even resorted to deploying left-backs as attacking substitutes.
Bukayo Saka’s injury remains a major concern. It seems unrealistic to expect him to be fully fit for both legs, and without him, our attacking threat diminishes significantly.
Beyond that, there are lingering concerns about our ability to convert possession into genuine scoring opportunities.
In recent Premier League matches against Nottingham Forest, West Ham, and Newcastle, we dominated possession yet struggled to create clear-cut chances.
With all due respect to those teams, this is a different challenge altogether.
This is the Champions League quarter-finals against the most decorated club in the tournament’s history.
This is Arsenal’s opportunity to prove we belong at this level once again.
These are the nights we dreamed of during our years away from Europe’s elite stage.
Mikel Arteta has a chance to write history. Knocking out Real Madrid would send a powerful message to the football world—Arsenal is back among Europe’s elite.
This is our moment to create unforgettable memories.
To etch our names into Champions League folklore. To take a giant step toward greatness.
Now, it’s time for Arteta and his players to seize their moment and make history.
