Arsenal press conference live – Mikel Arteta on Real Madrid, Partey fitness, injuries, team news

Live coverage of Mikel Arteta’s press conference ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid at the

Mikel Arteta faces the press ahead of Arsenal’s match with Real Madrid (Image: Michael Regan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta faces the media ahead of his Arsenal’s side’s attempt to knock the UEFA Champions League holders out of the competition in their own stadium. They hold a three-goal lead from the first leg but in such a historic ground, football fans around the world know anything is possible here.

The positive news that Arteta is sure to be asked about is the fact that Thomas Partey and Ben White were both spotted in training on Tuesday morning. The former was forced off early against Brentford while White never even made the squad.

We will also hear from one of the Arsenal players ahead of the match too. It is the first time since Thierry Henry scored in the Spanish capital in 2006 that any Gunners star has stepped foot inside this ground.

You can hear everything Arteta has to say on all that and much more with football.london’s chief Arsenal correspondent Tom Canton is in our live blog below.

18:57Tom Canton

Arteta on the game

Well it depends, if we have a positive move and they feel frustrated then the game would be much closer than we want it to be.

In the end the context of the result of the game cannot change that much as you have said the game will be in the opposite direction.

Jude Bellingham reveals one thing Arsenal did that surprised Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham has admitted that Declan Rice’s free-kick double was the only thing that surprised Real Madrid in their 3-0 Champions League defeat to Arsenal. All square at 0-0 at the break, the Gunners took the lead just before the hour mark with Rice curling in an unstoppable free-kick beyond Thibaut Courtois.

The midfielder then added a second free-kick 12 minutes later as he arrowed a powerful drive into the top corner of the Real Madrid shot-stopper’s goal. Rice has demonstrated his quality over a dead ball a number of times since joining Arsenal from West Ham but he has never really had the opportunity to showcase his free-kick prowess with others usually standing over the ball.

Speaking ahead of the second-leg tie between the sides in Spain, Bellingham revealed that he had never seen his England teammate produce something like that with free-kicks before.

Read the full story here.

One aspect of Arsenal’s game surprised Jude

Carlo Ancelotti could scrap Real Madrid plan to stop Bukayo Saka

Carlo Ancelotti has two big decisions to make ahead of Real Madrid’s clash against Arsenal. Los Blancos will host Mikel Arteta’s side at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal.

The Gunners stormed past Real Madrid in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last week; Declan Rice scored two brilliant free-kicks before Mikel Merino put the final nail in the coffin. Arsenal have secured a three-goal lead ahead of their trip to the Spanish capital, with a place in the the semi-finals up for grabs.

While Bukayo Saka didn’t get on the scoresheet, he caused Ancelotti’s side numerous problems. The Hale End graduate, who’s recently returned from a hamstring injury, enjoyed his duel against David Alaba, twisting him inside and out.

Read the full story here.



Carlo Ancelotti during Real Madrid’s clash against Valencia (Image: Photo by M Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images)

17:32Tom Canton

Arsenal reporter line-ups vs Real Madrid

Arsenal take on Real Madrid in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League clash in the Bernabeu. It will be one of the most famous nights in recent Arsenal history as they look to build on the astonishing three-goal lead they earned at the Emirates Stadium last week.

While their clash with Brentford at the weekend did not offer the victory that Mikel Arteta may have wanted from the game, it did mean he could offer some rotation to his team who are well prepared for the midweek battle ahead.

There were concerns over both Thomas Partey and Ben White, however both have been spotted in training ahead of the flight to the Spanish capital. With this in mind, football.london’s writers take a look at who they would start to try and overcome Los Blancos.