Arsenal Will Go for it Against Real Madrid, Says Arteta

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Arsenal - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - April 5, 2025 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Arsenal - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - April 5, 2025 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts REUTERS/Scott Heppell
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Arsenal Will Go for it Against Real Madrid, Says Arteta

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Arsenal - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - April 5, 2025 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Arsenal - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - April 5, 2025 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Arsenal have not made it past the Champions League semi-finals since 2009, but manager Mikel Arteta wants his side to write their own history when they host Real Madrid for the first leg of their quarter-final at the Emirates on Tuesday.

Madrid, the record 15-times European champions, have won six Champions League titles since 2009 while Arsenal continue their hunt for a first crown.

Arteta, whose team last year bowed out of the competition after a quarter-final loss to German side Bayern Munich, urged his side to back themselves.

"It's a club (Madrid) that has set new standards in world football. This is where we want to be, where we want to belong," Arteta told reporters on Monday, Reuters reported.

"It's part of their history. We have to write our own history. We have to focus on our thing. They can hurt us a lot but we can too.

"With a lot of hope that we can get a result, that we can do it. We need to be convinced that we can do it. We need to just enjoy it.

"It will be just the first leg, the intention is clear for tomorrow. We're going to go for it."

Winger Bukayo Saka did not start in Arsenal's 1-1 Premier League draw at 15th-placed Everton on Saturday, only coming on in the 46th minute.

The 23-year-old England international, who has scored 10 goals and provided 14 assists in 26 matches in all competitions for Arsenal this season, had only made his long-awaited return from a hamstring injury on Tuesday.

Arteta said Saka was in a much better place now.

"We have built his minutes and he's coped with that really well," the Spaniard added.

 

 



Real Sociedad Appoint Francisco to Replace Alguacil as Manager from Next Season

Real Sociedad's head coach Imanol Alguacil gestures during the Spanish LaLiga match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Sociedad, in Vitoria, Spain, 13 April 2025. (EPA)
Real Sociedad's head coach Imanol Alguacil gestures during the Spanish LaLiga match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Sociedad, in Vitoria, Spain, 13 April 2025. (EPA)
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Real Sociedad Appoint Francisco to Replace Alguacil as Manager from Next Season

Real Sociedad's head coach Imanol Alguacil gestures during the Spanish LaLiga match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Sociedad, in Vitoria, Spain, 13 April 2025. (EPA)
Real Sociedad's head coach Imanol Alguacil gestures during the Spanish LaLiga match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Sociedad, in Vitoria, Spain, 13 April 2025. (EPA)

Real Sociedad have appointed their reserve team coach Sergio Francisco as manager from next season to replace Imanol Alguacil who is stepping down at the end of the current campaign, the LaLiga club said on Friday.

Alguacil, in charge since 2018, won the Copa del Rey in 2020 and took Real to European football for five successive seasons. He informed the club on Thursday that he will leave the role at the end of the season, when his contract expires.

The club have again decided to appoint from within, and Francisco, who like Alguacil, began his playing career at Real, has managed their C and B teams since 2017, having previously taken charge of Real Union in Spain's third tier.

Francisco, 45, has signed a deal until 2027, and will take charge of the reserves for the final time on Saturday before dedicating himself to planning for next season.

Real are 10th in the LaLiga standings on 42 points and still in with a chance of qualifying for Europe once again.