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Arsenal will have a big test above the shoulders against Real Madrid
Arsenal will enter its Champions League clash against Real Madrid in unfamiliar territory with a three-goal lead and one foot in the semi-finals.
But being in such a commanding position comes with its own set of pitfalls.
Yes, we would much rather be in the position we are in, but Madrid will come out breathing fire midweek, with the need to score a quick goal of the utmost importance, so the Gunners are going to have to calm one almighty storm in the opening 20 minutes.
Survive that, and then the waters perhaps might become calmer.
But it is important for the Gunners to go to the Santiago Bernabéu and try to win. Setting up to defend for 90 minutes, one, isn't in Arteta's DNA of his club, and two, it invites pressure and with the home crowd behind them, Madrid could easily slam on three or four goals in a heartbeat and Arsenal's once big lead, could evaporate.
Mentality key in Arsenal's Real Madrid approach
If the Gunners can manage to score first, and go 4-0 up on aggregate, then the nerves will easy, but concede early, and the floodgates could open in a manner that the Gunners aren't built to withstand.
“I think we've experienced this many times when we play here and I think it's not going to be something different,” Partey said via arsenal.com. “We just have to be confident with the ball and try to play our game."
That seems like a solid and bulletproof plan from Partey, but as Mike Tyson once famously said, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth," and Real has the capabilities to land a couple of knockout blows in the blink of an eye.
With the urgent need to get back into this tie as quickly as possible, it is going to be a brutal start for the Gunners and it's one they must withstand.
Do that, then you can start to play your game and build into the contest.
The longer the wait goes for that first Madrid goal to go in will benefit Arsenal greatly, after all, the Gunners' best friend in Spain is time, with Real only having 90 minutes to score three.
So, Arsenal must approach this with the right mentality and not lie on the canvas struggling to make the 10 count early in the first half.