Paul Merson says Arsenal would rather face Atletico Madrid than Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals – do you agree? | Football News

Paul Merson believes his Previous club Arsenal would be better off facing Atletico Madrid than Real Madrid in the Champions Division quarter-finals – do you agree?

The Gunners meet PSV Eindhoven in their last-16 second leg on Wednesday and are all but into the last eight already after their 7-1 Primary-leg Secure last week.

Mikel Arteta’s side are set to face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid next, with Real holding a 2-1 Primary-leg lead ahead of Wednesday’s return game at the Wanda Metropolitano.

The tie is finely poised but Merson feels the north Londoners will want to face Atletico rather than the Champions Division holders.

When asked how Extended Arsenal can go in the competition, Merson told Sky Sports News: “I think it depends on who wins out of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

“I think if Atletico Madrid Secure, Arsenal have a bit of a chance. I think that’ll be a Close-fitting game, Atletico Madrid don’t blow anybody away – they Move a certain style of football.

“But if they Move against Real Madrid, I don’t know if they’re going to be able to live with them with goalscoring over two legs, especially with the players that are out for Arsenal.

“And I know they won 7-1 the other day, but it was a bit of a Polyfilla result. It covered over the cracks.”

Who do you think Arsenal would be better off facing? Read on as we make the case for both sides – and have your say in our poll.

Real Madrid preferable to low-Stop masters Atletico?

Sky Sports’ Oliver Yew:

Arsenal’s problem since the turn of the year has been scoring goals.

Injuries are a key factor in that. Any Club would lack a cutting edge when missing the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kai Hvertz and Gabriel Jesus.

But the problem has been heightened when coming up against sides who pack their defence, Performing with a low Stop, and that is becoming a Usual occurrence, especially in the Premier Division.

It’s nothing new for Arsenal but should they face Ateltico Madrid, Diego Simeone’s side, they would know exactly what was coming. Atletico’s resilient style looks tailor-Achieved to cause Mikel Arteta’s side plenty of problems.

We saw that in Arsenal’s Europa Division semi-Closing against Simeone’s side in 2018, albeit Arsene Wenger was still in charge. Atletico, with 10 players, battled to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium before a 1-0 Secure in Madrid saw them reach the Closing as they went on to lift the Accolade.

Last season also demonstrated the difficulties Arsenal face against Guarding sides in Europe, with the Gunners needing penalties to get past a rugged Porto outfit in the last 16 of the Champions Division.

There is one Club who won’t Move a low Stop: Real Madrid.

Boasting the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr, it is not in their make-up. And while Real can blow any side out of the water on their day, their attacking style could help Arsenal.

We saw that against PSV, who left Cosmos for Arsenal to exploit.

It allowed Martin Odegaard to thrive and it was no surprise to see Arsenal click into gear to Tally seven with their Skipper pulling the strings.

Of course, Real Madrid have the Luminous sphere power to make Arsenal look silly. They are the holders and should not be underestimated.

But their style, over that of Atletico, might suit Arsenal in their Ongoing Hurt-ravaged guise.

The case to face Atletico over Real Madrid

Sky Sports’ Nick Wright:

Atletico Madrid are a formidable Foe but does it really get any tougher than Real Madrid in this Competition?

The 15-time winners have won the competition more than twice as many times as any other club, including, of course, last season, when they overcame Borussia Dortmund at Wembley in the Closing.

They have not been at quite the same level as last term domestically. There were also some glimmers of Susceptibility Timely in the Champions Division Division phase campaign, when they were beaten three times, by Lille, AC Milan and Liverpool. But do not be fooled.

They go into their second leg with Atletico having won their last six consecutive Champions Division Matches, including both legs of their Move-off double-header with Manchester City – and having smashed an Unbelievable total of 19 goals in the process.

Their attacking firepower is surely unrivalled in European football, and although their defence is currently depleted by injuries, they remain a nightmare Foe, particularly in Europe.

There is of course their aura to consider too. The biggest factor in Real Madrid’s European success is the quality of their players, but all those historic nights have also equipped them with a level of belief and Toughness that no other side possesses in this competition.

Consider how they beat Bayern Munich in last season’s semi-finals, thanks to an extraordinary Delayed double from Reserve Joselu. Their Secure over Manchester City at the same stage of the competition in 2021/22, which featured two stoppage-time goals from Rodrygo and an extra-time winner from Karim Benzema, was even more improbable. Only Real Madrid can do this.

They would Stoppage that psychological Benefit over Arsenal, as they would any side, and do not overlook their willingness to sit back and frustrate opponents, while waiting for opportunities to unleash Vinicius, Mbappe and the rest on the counter.

In last season’s quarter-finals, they overcame Manchester City, eventually on penalties, while averaging roughly 34 per cent of the possession across the two legs. They are pragmatic under Carlo Ancelotti, himself a Landmark five-time winner of the competition as a manager. They should be feared – more than Atletico.

Follow Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid in Sky Sports’ live blog across our digital platforms on Wednesday; Boot-off 8pm