Arsenal takes a 3-0 lead to the Bernabeu while they meet Real Madrid on Wednesday evening in the second stage of their quarterfinals of the Champions League
Mikel Arteta is confronted with a determining night of his reign as Arsenal boss. It will be on Wednesday evening in the quarterfinals of the Champions League quarterfinals in the beautiful setting of the Santiago Bernabeu.
Continue and Arteta will go down as the manager who led Arsenal beyond the power of Real Madrid and only three games from European glory. Go outside and Arteta will be the manager who throw away a 3-0 first leg and suddenly questions will be asked about whether he can ever lead the club to the biggest trophies,
If you lose 3-0 up, it is a body block that managers have difficulty recovering from. History does not look favorable to such surrendering. Unai Emery lost his job as Paris Saint-Germain Boss A year after blowing up a 4-0 first leg victory over Barcelona who won the return 6-1 in 2016/17. That remains the biggest change in the history of the competition.
Former Barcelona boss Ereste Valverde suffered the same fate against Liverpool in 2018/19 after his team won the first stage 3-0, but lost 4-0 in one of Anfield's largest European nights. Everyone remembers the glory and victory. But we quickly put the losers aside. Football is a brutal game and Arteta will be sharply aware of the dangers.
It is a thin line between success and failure. Although it is ridiculous to suggest that winning 3-0 was somehow worse than triumphing with 1-0 or 2-0, it puts on the bet in a perverse way.
Real Madrid has the opportunity to change an intimidating boiler from their stadium and, despite their sad representation at the Emirates, they still believe that they can turn it around.
After Real Madrid won on Sunday in Alaves, Brazil -Superster Vinicius JR said on social media: “I am already thinking about Wednesday! We are ready and look for it. We will wait for you in the Bernabeu and we will try everything. We are the real! Hala Madrid.”
There is no way in which this draw is over. Arsenal produced their biggest night in the Emirates by overwhelming the 15-way European champions. Declan Rice scored two sensational free kicks, Arsenal completed a brilliant victory and it kept their season very alive.
Arsenal has had a frustrating season in the Premier League due to injuries, too many draws and, in their eyes, bad referee decisions. They had to be the team that was ready to act as Manchester City faltered but instead lags behind in the Wake of Liverpool.
This team has deteriorated in the Premier League, but can take an almighty step forward if they beat Real Madrid and then set up a semi -final against Aston Villa or PSG. What an opportunity.
Arteta has done remarkable work at the Emirates. They are aware of a team and a club without direction when he took it almost six years ago. But Arteta has only one trophy to show it after winning the FA Cup in 2020.
They went close to the Premier League title race but are short. Now they have the chance to do what even the big Arsene Wenger, the biggest manager in the club's history, could not do: winning the Champions League.
Arsenal defeated Real Madrid on his way to the 2006 final and remained two clean sheets in the trial. Thierry Henry scored the winner in the Bernabeu. But the rear four is more surprising. Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure, Philippe Senderos and Mathieu Flamini.
Admittedly, Real did not have Vincius JR, Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe. But Arsenal has to do what that defense did … survive the first 20 minutes, suppress the crowd and get the job done. They should also not be caught between asking if they should linger or turn. Arsenal himself has experience with this from 2011/12.
Arsenal lost 4-0 to AC Milan in the San Siro, but the Italians did not know how to approach the return. Arsenal was 3-0 up before the break, but could not find the most important fourth. These games, even with a healthy lead, are difficult to plan. But Arteta is a brilliant tactician, leaves no details to chance and runs through every scenario with his players.
If Arsenal goes through, it supports the progress of Arteta. When they go out, Arteta has to lift the club more than a week after their biggest night of the canvas.
2018/19 Semi-final Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
This will fall as one of – if not the largest – European nights that Anfield has seen. An incredible change and one that shows everything is possible in an electrical stadium.
2017/18 Quarterfinals Barcelona 4-1 Roma Roma 3-0 Barcelona
Edin Dzeko described it as “crazy” when Roma retired a sensational fight in the days that goals were still going.
2003/04 Quarterfinals AC Milan 4-1 Deportivo La Coruña Deportivo La Coruña 4-0 AC Milan
As long as this was the striking competition as the biggest comeback – and the largest – in the history of the competition. It only shows the danger of not being able to stay or turn.
2016/17 Tour of 16 Paris Saint Germain 4-0 Barcelona Barcelona 6-1 Paris Saint Germain
Unai Emery was a PSG boss when his side collapsed into the well -camp and, although he stayed for another year, this was the start of the end.
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