Arsenal Eye Historic Champions League Semi-Final Spot Against Real Madrid, But Season Hangs in the Balance Amid Premier League Title Fade
Arsenal head to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday with one foot already in the Champions League semi-finals, but with the weight of their entire season resting on the outcome.
Mikel Arteta’s side stunned holders Real Madrid with a 3-0 victory in the first leg of their quarter-final tie in London, making them firm favourites to progress to the last four of Europe’s elite competition for just the third time. But with Premier League leaders Liverpool pulling away, Europe now represents Arsenal’s best and perhaps only shot at silverware this season.
The Gunners, still chasing a first-ever Champions League title, have become perennial contenders in the English top flight, narrowly missing out to Manchester City in the past two campaigns. This year, however, Arne Slot’s Liverpool have set a relentless pace, leaving Arsenal trailing despite several chances to close the gap.
A costly run of 12 league draws and only two wins in their last seven outings has seen Arsenal slip further behind. Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to mid-table Brentford left them 13 points adrift of Liverpool, who are poised to secure a record-equalling 20th league crown as early as next weekend.
Though Arteta insisted his squad had not taken their eyes off the domestic league, his team selection suggested otherwise. Five changes were made from the Madrid triumph, with key players Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard left out of the starting XI against Brentford.
Post-match, the Arsenal boss admitted: “We still have six games to play in the Premier League, which are going to be really important, for sure. But, for now, it’s all about Wednesday.”
While Arsenal travel to Madrid with momentum, Real’s formidable European pedigree boasting 15 Champions League titles means Arteta’s men can take nothing for granted.
Even if the Gunners advance, they may face Paris Saint-Germain or Barcelona, both in formidable form, in the semi-finals.
Despite evident progress under Arteta, Arsenal’s campaign hangs precariously in the balance. A failure to secure major honours for the fifth straight season remains a real possibility. Their grip on second place in the Premier League is also under threat, with Newcastle United seven points behind but holding a game in hand and riding a strong run.
Arteta expressed his disappointment following the Brentford result. “It is difficult because obviously there are a lot of reasons why we are with that distance (to Liverpool), and the amount of things that we have to deal with. Still, we are where we are, but yeah we want to be higher, that’s for sure,” he said.
While Champions League qualification for next season looks certain, slipping from second place could dent the club’s pride and the narrative of steady progress. For Arteta and his players, the coming weeks will be decisive. A deep European run could mark a historic breakthrough but anything less, and the season risks ending in disappointment.
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