After a season blighted by injuries and suspensions, Arsenal’s hopes of securing silverware will likely come down to two pivotal fixtures. Despite setbacks, Mikel Arteta’s side still has a chance to achieve glory as they prepare to take on Real Madrid in the coming weeks.
We had the privilege of speaking with former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboué, who faced the formidable Real Madrid during his time at the club. He shared his insights on how Arsenal will cope in Gabriel Magalhães’ absence and whether they have what it takes to overcome the Spanish giants.
Time for Saliba to Step Up
Arsenal’s ambitions of toppling a star-studded Real Madrid side – featuring the likes of Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé – have suffered a major blow with the news that Gabriel Magalhães has sustained a hamstring injury requiring surgery. The Brazilian defender is expected to miss the remainder of the season, with his focus now on returning fully fit for the next campaign.
With Gabriel sidelined, a significant burden will fall on William Saliba to marshal Arsenal’s defense. He will need to guide Jakub Kiwior, who is likely to step in for the injured centre-back. Despite the setback, Eboué remains confident in Saliba’s leadership and believes Kiwior is up to the challenge.
“I feel sorry for Gabriel Magalhães,” Eboué admitted. “You know what? If Kiwior plays for Arsenal, it means he is a good player. So, for me, Saliba has to help Kiwior a lot. He doesn’t play often, and it will be difficult for him to face Mbappé, Vinícius, or Bellingham – who, to be honest, is everywhere on the pitch.”
“I think Saliba, with his experience, has to support Kiwior in this game.”
Kiwior Is Ready to Fill in for Gabriel
Eboué is no stranger to stepping up in high-stakes matches against Real Madrid. He was part of the Arsenal side that triumphed over Los Blancos in the 2005/06 Champions League, despite being in a similar predicament when Sol Campbell was injured, forcing Philippe Senderos to fill the void. The question now is whether Kiwior can rise to the occasion as Senderos did.
“Of course, Kiwior can step up like Senderos did that season. Why not?” Eboué said. “If you play for a big team like Arsenal, you have to be ready for any game and any situation.”
Eboué Urges Arsenal to Take Inspiration from Past Real Madrid Clashes
Reflecting on Arsenal’s famous victory at the Bernabéu in 2006, Eboué recalled the initial concerns surrounding Senderos’ ability to handle the legendary Ronaldo Nazário.
“I remember before that game, all of us were saying, ‘It’s going to be very, very tough because Senderos is going up against Ronaldo.’”
Taking on one of football’s greatest-ever strikers is no easy task, but Arsenal emerged victorious that night. Eboué is confident that this Arsenal team can replicate that success.
“Senderos played for Arsenal for a long time, and he was a good defender. Of course, we felt sorry for Sol Campbell, but we were also happy for Senderos because he performed brilliantly. He was a little nervous, but we told him, ‘Senderos, Ronaldo is a great player, but you are better! Give it your best!’”
“We beat Madrid, and all of us were so happy.”
Eboué sees no reason why this Arsenal side, along with Kiwior, cannot achieve a similar feat.
“This Arsenal team can do the same.”
Real Madrid’s Winning Mentality a Concern for Arsenal, Says Eboué
In recent years, Real Madrid have developed a knack for winning even when not playing at their best – a trait that Emmanuel Eboué believes could pose a serious threat to Arsenal. It has been a defining characteristic of Carlo Ancelotti’s side, allowing them to emerge victorious from incredibly tough situations, which Eboué thinks will be crucial in the two-legged tie.
“I’ve watched Real Madrid a few times this season. They don’t really play well, but they win. That’s the problem for Arsenal,” Eboué admitted.
“They have great players, so even when the team doesn’t play well, in the end, they still win. You can see Mbappé scoring two goals, Vinícius making key passes, and Bellingham producing moments of magic.”
Arsenal’s Style of Play Under Arteta
While Arsenal have faced criticism for their performances this season, Eboué does not agree and believes Mikel Arteta’s side continues to play quality football.
“Arsenal have played well in every game. To be honest, this year I feel they’ve performed well every time, and I’ve really enjoyed watching them play. They play very good football.”
However, Eboué acknowledges one key issue: Arsenal’s defensive frailties compared to last season.
“A problem this year has been that they’ve conceded more than last season. Last year, they were very compact and didn’t concede as much. This year, they’ve let in more goals, and that’s not good.
“In the game against Real Madrid, Arsenal will be the better team, but they’ll have to be careful—because Real Madrid are still Real Madrid.”
Real Madrid Boosted Ahead of First Leg
Real Madrid have been given a major boost ahead of next week’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal, with Antonio Rüdiger, Kylian Mbappé, Dani Ceballos, and Vinícius Júnior all set to feature following their behavior during and after the recent win against Atlético Madrid.
The first leg takes place at the Emirates Stadium, and Eboué expects North London to be rocking when Real Madrid come to town.
“As an ex-Arsenal player who played against Real Madrid, my advice to the Gunners is simple – play your game and give your best.
“The first leg is at the Emirates, so our fans will be roaring! The players have to give everything on the pitch. It doesn’t matter if you’re starting or coming off the bench—you have to do your job.”
Eboué’s Warning: Be Clinical & Avoid Conceding
Drawing from his own experiences, Eboué emphasises the importance of being clinical in front of goal and keeping a clean sheet at home before heading to the Bernabéu.
“People think it’ll be easy for Arsenal at home because Real Madrid haven’t been at their best, but as I said – Real Madrid are Real Madrid.
“We have to play our football, give our best, and take the chances that come our way. Every chance must be converted because the second leg is at the Bernabéu. It’s crucial to score as much as we can at the Emirates and not concede.”
