As Arsenal prepares for a high-stakes second-leg encounter against Spanish giants Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, one passionate Gunners supporter and Nollywood legend, Chinedu Ikedieze, popularly known as ‘Aki,’ has shared his thoughts on what manager Mikel Arteta should do to secure a ticket to the final.
In an exclusive chat with BestLagos, Ikedieze, a die-hard Arsenal fan, expressed admiration for the team’s disciplined performance in the first leg, where they stunned Real Madrid with a convincing 3-0 victory at the Emirates. He was full of praise for how the Gunners managed to neutralize Madrid’s star-studded attacking force.
Asked If given the opportunity to give Mikel Arteta one piece of advice ahead of the second leg in Spain, what would it be, Ikedieze responded:
“Arteta, I don’t know what you told your boys. Whatever pattern of tactics you asked them to play, both defending and attacking, if they can do the same, no problem,” he said. “The way they held the Real Madrid attackers, from Rodrygo on the right flank to Vinicius Jr. on the left, their central forward Mbappe, and their supporting striker Bellingham—these guys are a handful. They can destroy any defence, but we were able to curtail them.”
With the football world watching closely, tonight’s clash at the Santiago Bernabéu promises fireworks. Arteta’s side will need to dig deep and replicate the defensive discipline and attacking precision that earned them the commanding first-leg advantage.
Chinedu Ikedieze’s advice, though simple, cuts to the heart of what makes knockout-stage football so intense: consistency and composure. “Let’s just see,” he added. “Let’s just watch and see.”
If Arteta takes his words to heart and Arsenal stays true to the strategy that delivered a historic first-leg triumph, fans around the world might just witness a new chapter written in Arsenal’s European journey.
