Arsenal look ahead to mammoth Champions League task against Real Madrid

National World - LocalTV

Arsenal face a huge challenge as they prepare to take on Real Madrid in the Champions League, a true test of their European credentials.  Mikel Arteta’s side has shown impressive form, but overcoming the competition’s most successful club will require tactical discipline and resilience.The Gunners will be eager to prove they belong among Europe’s elite in this highly anticipated showdown.

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00:00Arsenal's season under Mikel Arteta has been a rollercoaster, with moments of brilliance

00:08balanced out by challenges that have left fans divided on the manager's long-term prospects.

00:15While Arteta has undeniably transformed the team's style and mentality, questions remain

00:20about whether he can take them to the very top.

00:23With another intense Premier League campaign nearing its conclusion, supporters have been

00:28reflecting on the highs and lows, from statement victories to frustrating setbacks.

00:35As Arsenal continue their push for silverware and Champions League stability, opinions on

00:41Arteta's tenure vary.

00:43Some see him as the man to lead the club into a new era, while others wonder if he has reached

00:48his limit.

00:49To get a deeper understanding of fan sentiment and a full season rundown, I spoke to Jacobella

00:55of London World.

00:58The Champions League campaign is good, but where do Arsenal want to be?

01:05If they are to lose against Real Madrid, in hindsight, and just giving them a game, really

01:10pushing them the whole way, would that maybe give Arsenal fans something a bit more positive

01:15to take away from this campaign?

01:18I don't think Arsenal fans would particularly throw a strop too much if Real Madrid went

01:25on to beat us, especially the way they turned over City and some of the goals they scored.

01:30Kylian Mbappe's form is looking, I mean, he looks back to his best again.

01:34So I don't think Arsenal fans would, there would be a total collapse if Arsenal went

01:38out to Real Madrid.

01:39But you're absolutely right, they, you know, it's really important for Arsenal if they

01:43get that far to give them a good game.

01:46You know, these players, Arsenal are trying to create a serious outfit here.

01:52You know, that started when they signed Declan Rice for £100 million.

01:55You know, Kai Havertz, not a typical striker, but has been a really important player for

02:00us, you know, over £65 million.

02:02But Kai Osaka, you know, wants that kind of world-class title.

02:07I'm not sure if he wants that, but fans of Arsenal definitely want him to be, you know,

02:11looked at like that.

02:12And this is an opportunity to go out on the bigger stage and perform.

02:18It's also an opportunity, I think, to entice players for next summer, because, you know,

02:25you look at Arsenal's potential targets for the forward line next year.

02:28Over the last couple of years, Arsenal have been a really exciting prospect, and I still

02:34think they are, but, you know, are players like Alexander Isak, who I'm not even sure

02:40is going to be available, but players of that calibre, are they going to look at wanting

02:44to join Arsenal?

02:45We have to think about that.

02:46So, yeah, it's a really big end to the season, and hopefully Arsenal can go into the Champions

02:51League, all guns blazing, and go out with a bang.

02:55And you never know, maybe Mikel Mourinho will be lifting the trophy as Europe's next most

03:00in-demand striker with Arsenal.

03:02Jack, let's just mention a bit about Mikel Arteta.

03:05Now, it seems that, obviously, it's been a positive sort of change in this sort of generation

03:11since he came in, taking over from Unai Emery, who's, you know, obviously established himself

03:16in the Premier League as well with Aston Villa.

03:19You know, sometimes it does feel, it's an incredibly fickle business at times, and it

03:23does feel that fans are close to wanting the manager to leave.

03:27You know, how are the thoughts on Arteta if this season is to be trophy-less again?

03:35What can he sort of take?

03:36What can fans sort of feel about him?

03:38What's the overriding situation at Arsenal, because I'm sure they are, you know, looking

03:42to back him.

03:43He has proven himself at the top level.

03:45It's just been so, you know, unfortunate to not go all the way.

03:50Yeah, absolutely, and I do think the majority of Arsenal fans still have a lot of faith

03:55in Arteta.

03:56I mean, like I said, he's, over the last few seasons, we have been competing for titles.

04:00I don't think, as I said earlier, this season has been the same as much.

04:05But, you know, like I said, last season, he got us to 89 points, which I think was

04:09our highest points tally and more than the Invincible season.

04:12I think where fans are really disappointed is it is in the board and is in our failure

04:17to act in the transfer window.

04:18I think if it was up to Arteta, I don't think he would just be sticking with the players

04:22he's got.

04:23You know, managers always want more at their disposal, you know, not to the same point

04:26maybe that Chelsea have.

04:28Maybe that's too much, but I'm frustrated with him that maybe he can try and do more

04:32to influence the board to sign some attackers.

04:34But in general, I do think the fans' anger this season will be more with the board and

04:39trying to get a sporting director in than with Arteta himself.

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