Predicted Arsenal lineup and XI vs Real Madrid as Mikel Arteta makes Thomas Partey decision

Arsenal visit Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday night.

The Gunners travel to the Bernabeu for the first time since 2006, looking to secure a place in the last four of Europe’s elite competition.

Real Madrid were dismantled 3-0 by Arsenal in the first leg at the Emirates last week, meaning the North Londoners merely have to prevent Los Blancos from completing a remarkable comeback to progress.

Thomas Partey could potentially miss the match through injury, meaning Mikel Arteta could have a big decision to make regarding the construction of his midfield.

READ MORE: Former Arsenal ace used one word to describe Dani Ceballos, now he could destroy Mikel Arteta’s Champions League dreams

Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Real Madrid

After delivering a superb performance last week in N5, most of Arteta’s team picks itself.

David Raya will retain his place in goal, while Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Myles Lewis-Skelly have established themselves as indispensable figures in Arsenal’s back line.

Meanwhile, Jakub Kiwior has impressed in recent matches, earning his place as Gabriel Magalhaes’ short-term replacement.

In midfield, the mood music on Partey is upbeat, although Arteta will have to have a contingency plan in place in case the Ghanaian can’t

With Jorginho ruled out with a chest injury, the Spaniard would have little choice but to move Declan Rice deeper, Mikel Merino deeper and bring in Leandro Trossard to play up front.

However, Arteta will most likely risk Partey even if he’s only 80% fit.

Rice and Martin Odegaard will accompany the number six in the Gunners’ typical midfield trio, while the front three will remain the same from the first leg.

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli will flank Merino, Arsenal’s new cult hero number nine.

Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Real Madrid: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Merino, Martinelli.

Mikel Arteta should take Thomas Partey off early

Arteta has been guilty of overusing players when they’ve been on the brink of injury in the past, and this has often led to the exacerbation of fitness issues.

He has to be careful with Partey in this game, as he won’t want to lose him for a potential semi-final.

It’s reasonable to take a slight risk on the 31-year-old for a game of this magnitude, but if he’s flagging early on, the Arsenal boss has to make a change.

From goalkeeper to goal scored in 10 seconds ⏱️ pic.twitter.com/YNo4UyKVeD

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 13, 2025

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Whether that be at half-time or mid-way through the second half, he can’t overextend the player.

Merino can go into midfield, with Trossard coming on, or he can go more rogue and deploy either Lewis-Skelly or Ethan Nwaneri in midfield in the latter stages of the match.