LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal applauds the fans of PSV Eindhoven after the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and PSV at Arsenal Stadium on March 12, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Oleksandr Zinchenko knows that Arsenal will be up against it
Oleksandr Zinchenko fired up Arsenal for their Champions League acid test and warned: “We’re going to need the performance of our lives.”
The Gunners players clustered around the dressing room TV to watch Real Madrid edge past capital rivals Atletico in a controversial penalty shootout to earn a date with Mikel Arteta’s side in the quarter-finals. And Zinchenko, who was a revelation in midfield as rested skipper Martin Odegaard’s understudy in the 2-2 phoney war against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night, is relishing Arsenal’s tilt at Real’s dizzying cast of Galacticos.
Despite reaching the last eight in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 15 years, the Gunners will be heavy underdogs with the second leg in Real’s Santiago Bernabeu fortress. Zinchenko said: “How can you cheer? It was a mixed feeling, because to be honest Atletico have been unlucky with that Julian Alvarez penalty.
“No one said anything. It was just mixed emotions, because to play against Real or Atletico, they are both amazing clubs. It is going to be an amazing experience for all of us. To face one of the best teams in the world, with that much experience and world-class players, is always nice. We are all looking forward to it.
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“In this competition, especially at this stage, you cannot be relaxed even for one second because the level and demands from all the teams at this stage is so high. If you are relaxed, even for a bit, they can punish you. This is what we should learn from the past. I think we have got this experience already, so let’s see how it works.”
Arteta will have to devise the mother of all game plans to overcome Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, and Zinchenko admitted: The only thing I can say is to play against Real Madrid, you just need to show the best performance of your life. Those are the demands at this level.”
Arsenal’s previous encounter with Real in the Champions League ended in glory, Thierry Henry’s winner in the Bernabeu clinching a 1-0 aggregate win in the last 16 as the Gunners closed in on the final in 2006. As a Manchester City player, Zinchenko has less fond memories of a sensational late blow-out three years ago as Rodrygo’s two goals and Karim Benzema’s penalty - all beyond the 90th minute - handed Real an astonishing 6-5 aggregate win.
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Oleksandr Zinchenko
Oleksandr Zinchenko didn't celebrate against former club PSV Eindhoven
The Ukrainian laughed: “Don’t remind me of that game! It was not the nicest experience. I was not happy with the result, but this experience I hope can help me for the future.”
Zinchenko’s future at the Emirates remains uncertain, with his contract due to expire next year, and he said: “It’s still a long way to go until the end of the season. I think we are at the stage and the most interesting period of the season, where every single game is a final and you never know what is going to happen in football.”
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