Mikel Merino reveals what Arsenal players are asking about Real Madrid

03/19/2025 11:15 AM

Mikel Merino has revealed that his Arsenal teammates have been asking about Real Madrid ahead of their Champions League tie next month.

The Gunners have reached the Champions League quarter final following an impressive 9-3 aggregate victory over PSV in the last-16 stage.

Madrid, meanwhile, faced two tricky games against rivals Atletico Madrid and needed a penalty shootout in order to eliminate Diego Simeone’s side.

Arsenal will now host Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on April 8 before Mikel Arteta’s side travel to the Bernabeu for the second leg on April 16.

And Merino claims Madrid’s ‘aura’ in the Champions League has been the talk of Arsenal’s dressing room.

‘They ask me what the stadium is like, what the atmosphere is like, if the aura surrounding Real Madrid in the Champions League and their comebacks are true,’ Merino told Onda Cero.

‘And of course, when they’ve done it so many times, that’s the image people have of them.

That aura that Real Madrid has in the Champions League, of comebacks, of heroics, is no coincidence, when they do it so often.’

Merino was also asked who he considers as favourites to win the Champions League but the Arsenal midfielder insists there is not one standout team remaining in the competition.

‘Talking about favourites is very difficult because the Champions League shows you that the details make the difference,’ Merino said.

‘There are three or four teams that can be considered favourites, but you can’t just pick one.’

Elsewhere in the Champions League quarter final, Inter play Bayern Munich, Barcelona face Borussia Dortmund, while Aston Villa meet Paris Saint-Germain.

The winner of Arsenal and Real Madrid will face either Aston Villa or PSG in the semi final.

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