Champions League holders Real Madrid are vulnerable and Arsenal have the quality to spring a major upset.
That’s the view of Gunners legend Martin Keown, who has insisted that Los Blancos are not invincible as he commented on their recent leaky defence.
The north London outfit welcome the Spanish side to the Emirates on Tuesday night for their quarter-final first leg tie.
It’s the first time the two teams have faced each other in an official match since the 2005/06 campaign – which saw Arsenal prevail over two last-16 legs.
Both sides go into the match looking to return to winning ways, with Arsenal being held to a 1-1 draw away at Everton last Saturday.
Meanwhile Real lost 2-1 at home to Valencia, with Carlo Ancelotti’s men now conceding eight goals in their last three matches.
And the two clubs are both missing key players, with Gabriel Magalhaes joining Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the sidelines.
As for Real, they are without Aurelien Tchouameni due to suspension, with Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and ex-Arsenal loan star Dani Ceballos all out through injury.
Speaking to talkSPORT.com ahead of the fixture, Keown acknowledged Madrid’s superior firepower, but insisted their makeshift defence could be their undoing.
He said: “I feel that the first game is so important.
“Arsenal have to be in front going into that second leg, you don’t want to concede, but in a moment, you can concede against them, it can all go wrong.”
Before adding: “I’m hoping that this group of players can finally win something, why not?
“You have to dream big, Real Madrid lost again at the weekend, they’ve conceded eight goals in their last three matches.
“So they’re not invincible, I know the business end of the season comes in the Champions League and they’re magnificent – 15-time winners.
“But forget all of that, they’re not quite what they were at the back and Arsenal need to exploit that.”
Commenting on how Arsenal can trouble the holders, Keown remarked: “I think really trying to get into the bottom of their midfield for us to develop the play through the middle.
“We like to get through, finding space for [Martin] Odegaard, people running from deep, I think that [Gabriel] Martinelli, if he comes into that central area and is encouraged to do so, he has the wheels to upset their defence.”
Urging boss Mikel Arteta to then have Arsenal playing on the front foot, Keown stated: “There’s a lot of people talking about Arsenal and how can they defend against Real Madrid.
“But the most important thing for Arsenal is to be creative, even without a centre-forward, there has been occasions where they haven’t been creative enough.
“But with the two most creative players back in the team in Bukayo Saka and Martinelli – take nothing away from [Ethan] Nwaneri – I think for goal involvements, he’s had ten now, he’s been a really good addition.
“[Myles] Lewis-Skelly as well can play an important part, so we’re asking a lot of this group, but these are big nights with special occasions.
“And I feel that the fans will play their part in this as well, we have to go and enjoy it, relish it and hope for what would be a huge upset – Real Madrid are big favourites for this one.”
Though Keown is fully aware of the danger that Real possess, and believes that Jude Bellingham could prove pivotal over the two legs.
Asked to pick out the one Real player he fears the most, Keown said: “Probably Bellingham in that midfield role.
“They’ve got a lot of pace at the top of the team – Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, [Kylian] Mbappe.
“Maybe we can handle that – OK Gabriel [Magalhaes] not being available right now is a problem.
“But if you kind of go man-to-man against those three – and then it’s like, ‘Who is coming to pick up Bellingham coming from deep’?
“So it’s a big night for Declan Rice [in tracking Bellingham], a big night for the club, these are nights you have to embrace and enjoy and relish.”
Bellingham has enjoyed another impressive season for Real – chipping in with 13 goals and 12 assists from 41 matches.
And Bellingham knows his side must up their game if they wish to emerge victorious against Arsenal – issuing a ten-word message to his teammates over the weekend.
