Carlo Ancelotti changes Real Madrid penalty taker for Arsenal game in Champions League

Kylian Mbappe has taken over from Vinicius Jr on Real Madrid penalty duty (Action Images via Reuters)

Carlo Ancelotti has selected Kylian Mbappe as Real Madrid’s first-choice penalty taker for their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal on Tuesday night.

Ancelotti’s policy of rotating Madrid’s penalty takers has come under fire this season with Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all missing from the spot.

Vinicius Jr has missed Madrid’s last two penalties – first against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last-16 last month, while in the 2-1 defeat at home to Valencia on Saturday, the Brazilian’s effort from the spot was comfortably saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Speaking after Vinicius Jr’s latest miss, Ancelotti said: ‘It’s been a difficult season for penalty takers.

‘Bellingham missed against Valencia, Mbappe at Liverpool and San Mames, and Vini at the Metropolitano. And I’ve decided to give him my trust again.

‘We’ll see if Mbappe becomes the first-choice taker.’

Vinicius Junior missed a penalty in Real Madrid’s defeat against Valencia on Saturday (Getty)

According to Marca, ahead of the Champions League tie against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, Ancelotti has now decided to make the change and Mbappe will be Madrid’s first-choice taker if they are awarded a penalty.

The report adds that Madrid’s coaching staff believe that there isn’t a player in the squad who could be considered a clear penalty specialist and that if Mbappe misses, Bellingham will take the next spot kick.

Meanwhile, David Raya has faced criticism over his penalty-saving technique following Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Everton on Saturday.

The Spaniard went the wrong way for Iliman Ndiaye’s spot kick, while he also did the same on multiple occasions during the shootout against Manchester United in the FA Cup in January.

David Raya has faced criticism over his penalty-saving technique (Getty)

‘He seems to be taking this massive leap to one side, which is almost giving the penalty taker so much time to say, ‘well, he’s definitely going that way’,’ former Arsenal striker Ian Wright told Premier League Productions.

‘I’ve seen penalties being taken against him recently where he’s continually going the wrong way.

‘I think his form in trying to save them, I think it’s wrong, simply because he’s going so far, he’s making such a commitment to one side.

‘He’s giving it up, especially if you’ve got a longer run up, you can actually see him a yard away from the ball, he’s gone, he’s [Ndiaye] not kicked the ball yet and David Raya has taken two steps to his right.

‘You’re going to see that when you’re running up, you can see he’s committed to one side.

‘That’s the only thing I look at and worries me with the penalties being taken against us at the minute.’

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