Arsenal Starting XI vs Real Madrid: Confirmed team news and predicted lineup | OneFootball

Arsenal Seek Historic Breakthrough Against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu

Partey and White Return for Crucial Champions League Night

Arsenal travel to the Santiago Bernabeu tonight carrying not just a lead, but a sense of growing belief. With a 3-0 advantage over Real Madrid from the first leg, Mikel Arteta’s side stand on the cusp of their first Champions League semi-final appearance since 2009. It is unfamiliar territory for the modern Gunners, but the reintegration of Thomas Partey and Ben White offers fresh impetus at a pivotal moment.

Partey, who was forced off early in the Premier League draw against Brentford, trained on Tuesday and is confirmed available. “He is available,” said Arteta. “He had a little niggle during the game [against Brentford], that’s why he had to come off. But he felt good after the last few days so he’s fine.” Partey is expected to slot into the midfield three alongside Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard, offering balance and poise in what will likely be a high-pressure evening in Madrid.

White, who missed the Brentford clash after a knock in training, is also fit, although Arteta may opt for continuity and stick with Jurrien Timber at right-back.

Tactical Shape Hints at Control and Containment

Arteta is likely to stay loyal to the 4-3-3 system that has underpinned much of Arsenal’s recent European campaign. In goal, David Raya remains the firm choice, shielded by a back four expected to include Timber, William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

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Further forward, Ødegaard will captain the side, with Rice offering transitional cover and Partey controlling the tempo from the base. It’s a midfield configuration designed to manage the game as much as win it – crucial in away legs on nights like this.

The front three should once again include Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the flanks, with Mikel Merino expected to lead the line after his impactful display in the first leg. Leandro Trossard provides an attacking wildcard option, especially if Martinelli’s form dips or Madrid push high.

Real Madrid’s Threat Remains – But Arsenal Must Not Retreat

Despite their dominant position, Arsenal cannot afford to settle into a defensive mindset. This is Real Madrid, a club forged in the fires of Champions League remontadas. The atmosphere at the Bernabeu will be charged, and Arteta’s men must be braced for an early Madrid surge.

Arsenal’s defensive absentees include Calafiori, Gabriel, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, meaning depth is stretched. Midfield options are also thin, with Jorginho ruled out following a rib injury, and long-term issues keeping Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus sidelined. That said, the return of Raheem Sterling from suspension offers one more weapon off the bench if the game stretches.

Arsenal’s Moment to Embrace, Not Endure

There’s a maturity to this Arsenal side that suggests they may be ready for the step so many past iterations have failed to take. The first-leg performance, where Rice curled home two sublime free-kicks and Merino added a third, was not only effective – it was authoritative. Arteta has built a side that plays with clarity and control, traits that could prove decisive in Madrid.

This is more than just a fixture. It’s an opportunity to redefine a generation’s relationship with Europe’s biggest stage. No Arsenal team in 16 years has had a clearer shot at glory. The platform is theirs – and all that remains is for them to step up.

Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli