Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal players to believe they can defy the odds and topple Real Madrid.
The Gunners are underdogs going into their Champions League quarter-final tie, which kicks off on Tuesday night in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Real Madrid are the current holders of the Champions League and have won the competition a record 15 times.
Arsenal, by contrast, last made the semi-finals in 2009 and crashed out at this stage last season after losing to Bayern Munich.
But Arteta believes his side can cause an upset. Here, Standard Sport looks at how they may do just that…
Make the most of set-pieces
It was noticeable that set-pieces were a talking point during both club’s pre-match press conferences on Monday.
Arsenal’s threat in that area is well-documented, while Madrid have proved vulnerable there this season.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have conceded six goals from set-pieces in LaLiga so far this season, which is one more than in the previous two campaigns combined.
Valencia’s opening goal in their 2-1 win over Real Madrid at the weekend came from a corner and the Spanish media grilled both Ancelotti and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois during their press conferences on Monday.
“We have been working on set-pieces, we know how we have to defend those set-pieces,” said Courtois.
“Not conceding many corners, for example, would help. I think it is focus, being alert, but also Arsenal are good at set-pieces.
“But we are ready to defend those set-pieces well. We have prepared for this game well.”
Exploit Tchouameni’s suspension
Arsenal are missing key players such as injured defender Gabriel on Tuesday, but Real Madrid are without some big names, too.
Aurelien Tchouameni is the most notable absentee as the midfielder is suspended for the first leg of this quarter-final tie.
The Frenchman is a key part of Madrid’s midfield and has started all but three of their Champions League games this season. Tchouameni missed the trip to Anfield in November due to injury and Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners.
He provides defensive balance to a team that is blessed with attacking talent. For Real Madrid in LaLiga, only Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde have made more blocks than Tchouameni.
The France star is also only beaten by Bellingham and Valverde when it comes to interceptions and tackles.
Arsenal’s midfield must make the most of Tchouameni being out before he undoubtedly returns for next week’s second leg at the Bernabeu.
Get Saka to target Madrid’s left side
Ferland Mendy is another player that Madrid are having to cope without on Tuesday.
The left-back is out injured and so Ancelotti will have to turn to one of David Alaba or Fran Garcia instead.
Alaba or Garcia will be tasked with stopping Bukayo Saka, who is primed to start a match for Arsenal for the first time since December.
The winger made his comeback last week, coming off the bench against both Fulham and Everton, and confirmed on Monday that he is ready to start.
Saka, as he so often does, will hold the key to Arsenal’s attack - but even more so given Madrid’s issues at left-back.
The Gunners will look to attack down their right flank, especially as that is where Martin Odegaard likes to drift out, too.
Saka has admitted that Arsenal have plenty of respect for Real Madrid, but also warned them to fear the Gunners.
