Real Madrid stands as a significant opponent in Arsenal`s 21st-century European football narrative. For Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery, and now Mikel Arteta, continental campaigns have been marked by tough lessons and missed opportunities.
Moments of pure celebration have been scarce, often overshadowed by heavy defeats against giants like Bayern Munich and Barcelona. However, the memory of the Santiago Bernabeu victory and the subsequent resilience at Highbury in 2006 remains bright. That era`s Real Madrid, boasting stars like Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, and David Beckham at their peak, were held scoreless over two legs by Arsenal`s defense, featuring Philippe Senderos and Mathieu Flamini. Thierry Henry, with his dazzling skill, became a symbol of that triumph, capable of creating magic even while running down the clock.
Arsenal`s historic first away win against Real Madrid became a legendary chapter in Henry`s career. Now, Arteta and Bukayo Saka are eager to `write their own story,` hoping to add their own memorable moments.
`His moment was incredible,` Saka acknowledged in a press conference before the Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Real Madrid. `We are here to build our own legacy. But achieving something like that would be truly special.`
Arteta has also emphasized the `our story` theme. This Arsenal squad is keenly aware of the Champions League trophy that remains absent from their honors, a title that narrowly eluded Henry and his teammates in Paris.
In previous years, even reaching the final seemed distant for Arsenal. The 2006 final appearance was the last major stand for Wenger`s `Invincibles` era. Subsequent Arsenal teams occasionally showed promise before facing inevitable defeat against European powerhouses in the knockout stages.
During the later Emery years and the initial phase of Arteta`s rebuilding, these defeats almost took on a nostalgic quality. Losing to the best in the Champions League was seen as preferable to underperforming in the Europa League.
This perspective might be shifting as Arsenal competes in back-to-back quarterfinals for the first time in 15 years. They are, undeniably, underdogs against Real Madrid. Despite Saka`s reservations about labels, the absence of key players such as Gabriel, Kai Havertz, and Riccardo Calafiori will be deeply felt.
Nevertheless, this competition presents a significant opportunity for this young and fearless Arsenal team to solidify their place in club history, a fact that Arteta is acutely aware of.
`It`s truly special, a competition we`ve waited for years to be part of. Considering Arsenal`s stature, reaching this stage only twice in 15 years highlights the challenge,` Arteta stated.
`We aim to create our own narrative and progress even further, and tomorrow is a fantastic opportunity for us all.`
Last season, Arsenal was knocked out by Bayern Munich after a promising start in the first leg, perhaps succumbing to the pressure of their potential achievement. Arteta believes there is value in that past experience. `Building on these experiences is crucial. That`s why creating our own story is vital. There`s been a significant gap of success in European competitions for this club over many years.`
`We need to change that, and we need to change it quickly.`
Arsenal`s chances are greatly enhanced by Saka`s peak performance. Before his December hamstring injury, Saka`s form was comparable to Real Madrid`s top forwards, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. His return against Fulham was impactful, scoring the winning goal shortly after coming on as a substitute.
`Returning at this point in the season couldn`t be better,` Saka commented. `My physios know how much we discussed this game during my recovery. I`ve been focused on returning in top condition. I feel great now. I dedicated months to working towards this, and now we are here, and I`m excited.`
`I feel good and stronger with each game since my return.`
The prospect of a defining `Henry moment` is ahead for Saka. Arsenal`s all-time leading scorer has been a consistent mentor to Saka since his academy days. When Saka attacks down the left wing, evoking memories of Henry on the opposite flank, opponents feel a similar sense of danger.
`The biggest takeaway from Thierry is his self-belief,` Saka shared. `He offers me insights into specific game situations and his perspective. What strikes me most is his immense confidence.`
`He genuinely believed he was unstoppable on the pitch. That unwavering belief is what propelled him to dominate the league.`
And, of course, against Madrid. Those past encounters serve as motivation for Arteta`s team. `It`s definitely an inspiration because we aspire to achieve what that generation did,` he said. `It`s a different era, 20 years is a long time in football, different context. But the history is there.`
Should history repeat itself, it would indeed be a remarkable story.
Dominic Ashworth