ARSENAL are hosting Real Madrid at the Emirates in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final TONIGHT!The Gunners are boosted by the return of star winger Bukayo Saka, as they aim to beat the 15-time champions of Europe.Mikel Arteta rested key players Saka, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber in their 1-1 Premier League draw with Everton, indicating all their focus is on the Champions League. Jude Bellingham and Co already have recent success in the capital, having won last season’s Champions League final at Wembley, and will be looking to repeat the trick in north London.Kick-off time: 8pmTV channel/FREE live stream: Amazon Prime VideoArsenal team: Team news to follow…Real Madrid team: Team news to follow…CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow Arsenal’s Champions League clash below…One awayThere are a handful of players on both sides who, if cautioned, would miss the second leg in a week. For Real Madrid, these are:Vinicius JuniorLucas VazquezEndrickEduardo CamavingaAntonio RudigerLuka ModricAnd for Arsenal, they are:Declan RiceJurrien TimberGabriel MartinelliCopy linkCopiedTime to step upAs one man rose, another man fell.Bukayo Saka could not even make it back onto the pitch before Mikel Arteta was handed yet another injury dilemma against Fulham.In the first half, star defender Gabriel went down injured, and has since been ruled out for the season. With Calafiori also out, this left Jakub Kiwior as the only other recognised centre-back in Arteta’s side. Will the Polish centre-half make a name for himself, or is this just fitness for Kiwior, as he reportedly heads for the exit door at the Emirates? Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedArsenal transfer newsWhile Arsenal are gearing up for their huge clash tonight, they are also gearing up for next season.SunSport has Gunners fans covered with all the rumours ahead of a BIG 2025/26 season.Copy linkCopiedBellingham vs.. VARDespite Jude Bellingham having a HUGE clash against Arsenal tonight, it seems his real enemy is VAR.Bellingham won the competition last season, then shone for England in the summer at the Euros.However, during Real’s loss to Valencia, Bellingham was seen booting the technology.Can you blame him going after the computers, after they predicted his side to lose tonight?Copy linkCopiedWho else is on tonight?There are four games over the next two days.Tonight, alongside the clash in the capital, Bayern Munich host Inter Milan. There are two more tomorrow night, as Aston Villa travel to PSG, and Barcelona host Borussia Dortmund. Copy linkCopiedThe computer has spoken…The supercomputer has spoken ahead of tonight’s clash… and it says Arsenal are FAVOURITES. According to the device, the Gunners are set for a first semi-final in 16 years.But, can they go all the way?Copy linkCopiedArteta wants fans to bring the noiseAhead of a huge clash, Arteta has urged his sides supporters to get behind the team ahead of the game.The Gunners need the Emirates bouncing if they are to throw Real Madrid off their game.Copy linkCopiedEarly team newsMadrid Xtra on X (fka Twittter) are reporting that David Alaba and Lucas Vazquez will both START for Real tonight. The account also hinted that the starting midfield for the defending champions would be Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham. Copy linkCopiedForm guideIn their last five, the Gunners are unbeaten. In fact, their unbeaten run stretches back to February 26, their last defeat coming at the hands of West Ham at the Emirates. Real Madrid don’t have to go back so far for their last defeat, it was last Saturday, at home to Valencia. Los Blancos only have two wins in five, but everyone knows the danger of their attack once they get going. Credit: Bradley Collyer/PA WireCopy linkCopiedFamiliar facesFor a side like Real, the phrase “the one that got away” seems obsolete, especially with the likes of Achraf Hakimi and Theo Hernandez blowing Europe away after once being on their books.But, Martin Odegaard was famously once at Real Madrid, aged just 16. A babyfaced Odegaard failed to have much, if any of an impact for Los Blancos, but he has grown into the player that made Madrid sign him back in 2015.His disappointing spell in the Spanish capital saw him allowed to leave on loan to Arsenal in January 2021, then making it a permanent switch in August that year.He is not the only familiar face between the sides.Dani Ceballos spent two years at the Emirates between 2019 and 2021.But, unfortunately for Ceballos, he will miss his grand return to his former side with a muscle injury.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedA first meeting since 2006Despite both sides European pedigree over the last 20 years, this is the first time they have met since the round of 16 in 2006.The two legged tie was a cagey affair between the two sides.Arsenal won at the Bernabeu, a certain Thierry Henry scoring the winner.The Gunners then held Real to a 0-0 draw at the Emirates, sending them through to the quarter-finals.Credit: CARMELO RUBIO/AFP via Getty ImagesCopy linkCopiedMbappe and Rudiger to PLAYBeating your rivals in any context is a huge deal, especially when it is on penalties in their own back yard in the Champions League.However, in the heat of the moment, UEFA decided Real went too far.Gestures made by Antonio Rudiger and Kylian Mbappe will see them miss one game, BUT, crucially, not this one.The pair were handed a suspended one-match ban, so they are both free to play the HUGE clash at the Emirates.Credit: REUTERS/Susana Vera/File PhotoCopy linkCopiedSaka’s big returnThe phrase “I’m back like I never left” can only be brandished in special situations, but Saka is truly back like he never left.His return to action has given the Gunners a huge boost ahead of tonight’s game.The winger scored less than 10 minutes into his return against Fulham in the Premier League.Having missed a long spell of the season, in which time Arsenal’s title hopes dwindled, Saka returned just in time.He will be looking for a huge impact, and to create some memories for the Emirates faithful.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedArsenal focus on the Champions LeagueIt is all or nothing for the Gunners in the Champions League, it seems.In hindsight, Arsenal should have started their key men against Everton, as the lead to Liverpool could now be single digits if they had beaten the Toffees.However, Saka, Odegaard and Timber all had to watch from the bench for a period on Sunday.Arteta’s key men on the bench, it seems all his eggs are in the Champions League basket.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedGunner be a big oneWelcome to SunSport’s coverage of Arsenal vs Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final.Martin Odegaard steps up to his former side, looking to guide Arsenal into a first Champions League semi-final in 16 years.For Madrid, they are looking for a 16 themselves, but not a first semi-final in 16 years, rather a 16th title to add to their collection.The defending champions have previous success in London, winning the final at Wembley against Dortmund last season.Mikel Arteta’s team selection last time out against Everton points towards one thing for the Gunners: it is all or nothing in the Champions League.With an 11 point gap to close on Liverpool, the Gunners only have eyes for a first Champions League title in their history.Follow along with SunSport’s comprehensive blog of ALL the action from tonight’s HUGE clash.Copy linkCopied More
