Real Madrid a ‘fascinating’ tie, but Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal focus firmly on Chelsea

LONDON – Arsenal are very excited to play Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, but they will not be distracted from their English Premier League duties as they switch their focus to Chelsea, manager Mikel Arteta insisted.

The Gunners

thrashed PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate

to earn a last-eight spot against 15-time winners Real, a team they have played only once before in the competition, knocking the Spanish giants out over two legs in the last 16, en route to the 2006 final.

“Fascinating draw, we play the club with the biggest history in the competition,” Arteta said on March 14.

“Very excited to play against them, but before that we have some big matches in the Premier League.”

A three-match winless run has left second-placed Arsenal 15 points behind Liverpool as the title slips away from them, and they are now looking over their shoulder with Nottingham Forest and Chelsea catching up.

Chelsea are fourth, six points behind Arsenal ahead of the London derby at the Emirates, where the Blues

lost 5-0 last season.

But Arteta said this time they play a much-changed squad under Enzo Maresca.

The sides played out a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.

“It’s two teams that want to be very dominant in their way of playing, very aggressive in the high press and the way we have to have the ball,” Arteta said.

“There is a lot of individual quality on that pitch, so it’s about imposing what you want in the direction you want to take the game and keep them very far from their strengths, that’s going to be key.”

Arsenal are still playing without a striker due to season-ending injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, but Arteta received a boost as Gabriel Martinelli has returned after a month out, while Bukayo Saka is also close to full fitness.

“We have more options (now) but we have to manage the load, he (Martinelli) is a little bit ahead of schedule and we don’t want to take any risks with him by loading him with more minutes,” the Gunners boss said.

“Saka is getting closer, he’s stepping up and making very good progress. Let’s see, we have to throw him into the team, see how he reacts and how fit he can get quickly.”

Chelsea boss Maresca, meanwhile, insisted that his team will be allowed to break from his rigid tactics, if required.

The Blues were jeered by frustrated fans as they laboured to a drab

1-0 win against Premier League strugglers Leicester City

at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

There was more audible frustration from supporters during the 1-0 home victory against Copenhagen in the Conference League last-16, second leg in midweek.

The team’s approach of keeping the ball and slowing down the play, even when chances arose to attack a leaky Leicester defence, sparked criticism of Maresca’s game plan.

But ahead of the trip to Arsenal, the Italian admitted his side could be forced to be flexible.

“The intention will be that (to control the ball). And if we are able or not depends a lot on the opponent,” he said.

“They just told me that Pedro Neto against Copenhagen did a sprint on 90 minutes. The reason why is that we were sitting back at the edge of our box. So if we plan the game against Arsenal sitting back and wait, sure our strikers and wingers are going to do 20 sprints for 60, 70 minutes.

“Our plan is to control the game but Arsenal are a team that is going to press high and try to be aggressive, and probably we will (not sit back and) have more space to attack in behind.” REUTERS, AFP