Arsenal head to the Bernabeu on Wednesday with one foot already in the Champions League semifinals—but also with the weight of their entire season resting on the outcome in Madrid.
Mikel Arteta’s side stunned reigning champions Real Madrid with a dominant 3-0 win in the first leg at the Emirates, making them firm favourites to reach the last four of Europe’s elite competition for only the third time in club history.
But with their Premier League title hopes all but gone, the Champions League has become Arsenal’s last realistic shot at ending their long-running trophy drought.
Despite pushing Manchester City close in recent seasons, this campaign has seen Arsenal overtaken by a red-hot Liverpool under new boss Arne Slot. The Gunners have faltered at key moments, with 12 draws and only two wins in their past seven league games derailing their title bid.
Their latest stumble—a 1-1 draw against mid-table Brentford—left them 13 points adrift of Liverpool, who could clinch their 20th league crown as early as next weekend.
Arteta insisted his players weren’t distracted by the looming Madrid clash, but his team selection said otherwise. Star men Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Ødegaard were rested, part of five changes made from the side that beat Real.
“We still have six Premier League games left, and they’ll be very important,” Arteta said post-match. “But right now, it’s all about Wednesday.”
While Arsenal head to Spain in buoyant mood, they know full well that Real Madrid, with 15 European titles to their name, have made a habit of conjuring magic in this competition. Arteta won’t breathe easy until the final whistle sounds at the Bernabeu.
And even if the Gunners clear this monumental hurdle, daunting semifinal opponents likely await, with both Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona in commanding positions in their respective ties.
Balancing Act with Silverware on the Line
Arsenal’s season hangs in the balance. Despite genuine progress under Arteta, a fifth consecutive campaign without major silverware looms unless they can go all the way in Europe.
Their hold on second place in the Premier League is also far from secure. While they sit six points above an inconsistent Nottingham Forest, Newcastle are just seven points behind with a game in hand and are riding a wave of good form.
Reflecting on the Premier League gap to Liverpool, Arteta admitted the disappointment.
“It’s difficult,” he said. “There are a lot of factors that explain why we’re this far behind. We’ve had to deal with many challenges, and still, we’re in the mix. But of course, we want to be higher.”
Champions League qualification for next season looks almost certain, but anything less than a second-place finish would sting—and challenge the narrative that Arsenal are closing in on their first league title since 2004.
For now, Arteta’s focus is squarely on the present. With club history on the line in Europe, the Gunners have a golden opportunity to make a defining statement. But if they stumble in Madrid, the season could unravel in a heartbeat.