Emmanuel Petit makes frank admission ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Real Madrid

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit (Picture: Getty)

Emmanuel Petit fears Arsenal will have to produce their best performance of the season to knock Real Madrid out of the Champions League.

Arsenal head into Tuesday’s quarter-final first leg after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.

And just days earlier, the Gunners were dealt a fresh injury blow when Gabriel Magalhaes was ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

Real’s preparation for tonight’s clash – the first between the two sides since 2006 – has not been ideal, either, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side falling to a shock 2-1 home defeat to Valencia at the weekend.

Despite that, Petit is fearful that the Spanish giants will bounce back quickly from their recent defeat as they target a record-extending 16th Champions League crown.

‘It’s Real Madrid in the Champions League. Every time they hear that music it’s like something clicks,’ Petit told Metro.

‘They have a special relationship with this competition – I’ve seen them many times in the past few seasons win games where they haven’t been close to the best team on the pitch.’

Kylian Mbappe will spearhead Real Madrid’s attacking threat (Picture: Getty)

And such is Real’s pedigree in Europe that Petit believes his former side will have to reach heights not seen by Mikel Arteta’s side this season if they are to punch their ticket to the semi-finals.

‘You have to be really strong defensively as a team but when you have your chances, you have to be clinical,’ the Frenchman added.

‘So many clubs have been better than Madrid over two legs in the past couple of seasons but haven’t taken their chances and have been punished.

‘Arsenal will have to play their best game of the season to get through because Real’s strikers don’t need many chances to kill you off.’

Bukayo Saka could start for Arsenal for the first time since December (Picture: Getty)

In that regard, Arsenal’s search for a clinical touch has been aided tremendously by the return of Bukayo Saka from a long-term hamstring injury.

The 23-year-old has made two cameo appearances off the bench since Arsenal’s return from the international break and scored what proved to be the winner in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham last week.

And while Arteta was coy about the possibility of Saka starting in the first leg, Petit feels the Englishman’s presence is essential if the Gunners are to have any hope in the two-legged tussle.

‘It’s very positive that he’s back in the team,’ he said. ‘He scored last week and you could see how happy his teammates were for him – everybody loves him because he’s so dedicated to the club. It’s a huge bonus that he’s back in the team.

‘I wonder who is going to play left-back for Real Madrid because that is their weakest link. I don’t know if he’ll be able to play 90 minutes but if he’s able to start he will hurt the Real defence.

‘His teammates have to take advantage of that and be clever with their movements. Especially Odegaard. He hasn’t been the same without Saka in the team but now he’s back, this partnership will be the biggest thing for Arsenal in this game.

‘Declan Rice, too, has to be at his top level for this game but those two down the right side will give Arsenal their best chance if they perform to the level we know they can. They have to lead the team.’

Petit was speaking to Metro on behalf of William Hill.

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