While Arsenal must show they have got to grips with the business end of the Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti knows he and his Real Madrid team have no such worries.
Ancelotti has lifted the trophy five times as a head coach at Real and AC Milan. He knows what it takes. “Experience in this tournament is very important,” Ancelotti, 65, said. “Knowledge means you’re not afraid of these matches, with this pressure. Players have played in these matches many times and it helps the youngsters.”
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, agreed: “Carlo is a huge inspiration. He can help players win games, his tranquility and human side are big things for the players.”
Arteta acknowledged there is no comparison between Arsenal’s and Real’s history in this competition. The north London side have made the final only once, losing 2-1 to Barcelona in 2006, and showed they were still learning to adapt and understand the competition last season — perhaps understandable after six seasons away from European football’s top table. They edged past a stifling Porto side on penalties in the round of 16 and then got overexcited when on top and made defensive mistakes that cost them two goals in a 2-2 first-leg draw at home to a far-from-vintage Bayern Munich side, who won the return in Germany 1-0.
Arteta must hope his players have learned the lessons of 12 months ago when up against the nous and know-how of the 15-times winners. “There were moments where we absolutely had Bayern in the first leg and we have to utilise those moments and be ruthless,” Arteta said. “You have to put the game to bed and we didn’t — we gave them two goals and made life much more difficult. It’s about making it happen in these stages.”
Jakub Kiwior had a poor game at left back in that first leg against Bayern and was withdrawn at half-time. With Gabriel injured, Arteta must decide whether to start the Polish defender at centre back — as he did in Saturday’s draw away to Everton — or go with Ben White alongside William Saliba.
Kiwior, 25, has been a liability at times and, though he played well at Goodison Park, he displayed some lapses in concentration near the end of the 2-1 win over Fulham last week. White has played only 162 minutes since returning from a knee injury in February, making it seem more likely that Jurriën Timber will play at right back — tasked with stopping Vinícius Júnior.
Arteta’s playing style has been built on trying to be defensively perfect, which drew a compliment last week from Sander Berge, the Fulham midfielder. “It’s like someone is remote controlling them from row 50 when they’re defending off the ball in their 4-4-2,” Berge said. “Every single player covers all the right spaces.”
But Arteta’s approach also relies on every player being fully focused and if some are off their game, that can be exploited. He also has limited options to change things off the bench, especially in attack, where he is without Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus for the rest of the season.
Arteta pointed to Arsenal’s strength at set pieces, which has been a weakness for Real this season. “Set pieces have resulted in 33 per cent of our goals; they play a really important role for us, they are a decisive weapon for us,” Arteta said. “Our qualities can hurt their weaknesses — they do have them. [But] with the individual quality Real have, they are always a threat and they can hurt us a lot.”
He cited a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the league stage this season as evidence they could overcome Europe’s biggest sides at home. They beat PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate in the round of 16 while Real have had the harder route. The Spanish giants beat Manchester City 6-3 on aggregate in the knockout play-off and then overcame city rivals Atletico on penalties after it finished 2-2 on aggregate in the previous round.
Arteta can show that his results against Arsenal’s chief Premier League rivals have generally improved over his tenure. Their struggles have instead been against sides who sit off them. He has encouraged supporters to generate a fervent atmosphere in their biggest match since hosting Manchester United in the competition’s semi-final, second leg, in 2009.
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“We have to create our own story and go even further, and this is a beautiful opportunity — be super convinced we are ready to win,” he said. “When we have built history, we have to build moments. We don’t have to convince our players, they know what they have to do, and we’d have a problem if they weren’t convinced any more.”
Ancelotti has been criticised in some sections of the Spanish media after losing 2-1 at home to Valencia on Saturday, a fifth defeat this season. Jude Bellingham’s anger spilled over when he took aim at the pitchside monitor as he walked to the players’ tunnel. “I have heard the criticisms; we should not be thinking about it,” Ancelotti said. “We did not do well against Valencia and we have analysed it.”
Aurélien Tchouaméni is suspended and there is a doubt over whether Federico Valverde will play at right back or central midfield. Thibaut Courtois, the goalkeeper, said Real’s approach would include trying to minimise conceding corners.
“We have a lot of respect for Arsenal, they’re a young team, but with experienced players — it’s just a matter of time before they win a trophy,” Courtois said.
