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.

 

 



Howe Recovering from Pneumonia and Will Miss Newcastle’s Upcoming Games 

Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Brentford - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 2, 2025 Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe before the match. (Reuters) 
Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Brentford - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 2, 2025 Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe before the match. (Reuters) 
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Howe Recovering from Pneumonia and Will Miss Newcastle’s Upcoming Games 

Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Brentford - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 2, 2025 Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe before the match. (Reuters) 
Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Brentford - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - April 2, 2025 Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe before the match. (Reuters) 

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is recovering in the hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia and will miss at least the team’s next two games, the club has said.

In a statement released by Newcastle late Monday, the 47-year-old Howe thanked everyone at the club and “the wider football community for your messages and warm wishes.”

Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs typically caused by an infection. According to Britain’s National Health Service, most people get better in 2-4 weeks but people at most risk of getting seriously ill and needing hospital treatment are babies, older people and those with heart or lung conditions.

Howe will miss Premier League games against Crystal Palace at home on Wednesday and Aston Villa away on Saturday. He already missed the 4-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday, having been admitted to the hospital on Friday after feeling unwell for several days.

Assistants Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones will continue to lead the team in Howe’s absence, Newcastle said.

Newcastle is in fourth place in the Premier League and attempting to qualify for next season’s Champions League by finishing in the top five. By beating Palace, Newcastle would jump above Nottingham Forest into third.