Arsenal’s Zinchenko on facing Real Madrid and his future at the club | OneFootball

Oleksandr Zinchenko says Arsenal will need to put in “the performance of their lives” if they are to beat Real Madrid and progress to the Champions League semi-finals.

The Gunners set up a quarter-final clash with the reigning champions after thrashing PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate in the round of 16.

Real, meanwhile, scraped past city rivals Atletico Madrid following a penalty shoot-out victory.

And Zinchenko knows the size of the task awaiting him and his Arsenal team-mates.

“At this stage, in this competition, anything can happen,” he said.

“The only thing I can say is to play against these kinds of teams, like Real Madrid, you just need to show the best performance of your life. This is the demands at this level.

“It is going to be an amazing experience for all of us, for the club as well. Obviously, what can I say, to face one of the best teams in the world, with that much experience and world-class players, is always nice. We are all looking forward to it.

“I think in this competition, especially at this stage, you cannot be relaxed even for one second – because, honestly, the level and demands from all the teams at this stage is so high.

“If you are relaxed, even for a bit, they can punish you. This is what we should learn from the past. I think we have got this experience already, so let’s see how it works.”

Zinchenko started and scored in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with PSV at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, playing in central midfield rather than his usual left-back role.

The Ukrainian was heavily linked with a move away in January but says he is happy to be at the club and is not sure whether he will depart in the summer.

“Honestly, I am so happy to be part of this amazing club and team,” he said.

“It is really a joy to be close to these guys. Whenever the team and head coach needs me, I am there. In any position they need me, I am there to help. Even if I will be in the stands, I will try to make an impact as much as I can, to push the others, just to hug someone, whatever! It is really a joy to be here.

On his future, he continued: “I don’t know yet to be honest. If I would know, I could tell [you].

“It’s still a long way to go until the end of the season. I think we are at the stage and the most interesting period of the season, where every single game is a final and you never know what is going to happen in football.”