With Arsenal heading into Wednesday night’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid holding a commanding 3-0 lead, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has offered bold tactical advice to Gunners boss Mikel Arteta: don’t sit back—go for it.
Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the ex-England international emphasized that Arteta’s approach at the Santiago Bernabéu could make or break Arsenal’s European ambitions.
“How is Mikel Arteta going to prepare this team to approach this game? I think that is going to be one of the key factors,” Ferdinand said. “Does he go out there and be defensive, protect the lead, and just sit back? Or does he say, ‘You know what, let’s take it to them’? Because if we score, they’ve got to get four—five to beat us. And when have we conceded five?”
His advice? Attack with confidence.
“I would go out there and go, ‘Listen, let’s go toe to toe!’” Ferdinand declared.
Arsenal stunned Carlo Ancelotti’s side at the Emirates in the first leg with a dominant 3-0 performance, thanks to a brace from Declan Rice and a goal from January signing Mikel Merino. Now, with the second leg looming at the Bernabéu, the focus is on whether Arteta will play it safe or push forward to secure Arsenal’s first semi-final appearance in over a decade.
The decisive clash kicks off at 8 p.m. Nigerian time on Wednesday.
