Arsenal’s UCL Glory Hinges on Three Big Fixes Before Santiago Bernabéu Date

 By Danong

It will be at least 16 days until Arsenal are back in action—how boring the next few days are going to be for die-hard Gooners. Of course, some will pass the time watching the Gunners turn out for their national teams in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

While attention shifts to the World Cup qualifiers, the Arsenal technical bench along with Arteta has three pressing matters they must address to ensure the team ends the season in style.

With the Gunners sitting 12 points behind league leaders Liverpool, winning the Premier League title this season seems unlikely. Arsenal’s glory this campaign lies in the UEFA Champions League, where Real Madrid (in the UCL quarters) stand in their path.

The Gunners must devise a masterplan to eliminate the Spanish giants, excel in the semi-finals, and lift the Champions League title at the Allianz Arena in Munich, finishing the season with silverware.

Sounds like a tall order but get these three fixes right and glory may indeed follow.

1. Who leads the attack?

Mikel Merino has done a decent job leading Arsenal’s attack. Amidst calls to abandon his false-nine setup before the Chelsea clash, it was Merino who ultimately decided the match.

One could argue that the more Merino plays as the false nine, the more he grows into the role, builds momentum, and establishes on-field relationships to thrive in that position.  

So, does Arteta stick with Merino’s false-nine approach? With Bukayo Saka set to return and Gabriel Martinelli finding form, will Merino retain his spot in the starting XI?  

The fact that only Mohamed Salah (5) and Omar Marmoush (4) have scored more goals than Merino (3) since the Spaniard’s debut as a false nine highlights his impact. This makes it difficult to overlook his contribution.  

However, if Saka returns, Arsenal could opt for a front three of Trossard, Martinelli, and Saka. That would be an intriguing prospect and a decision needs to be made that will have a crucial impact on the outcome of the tie.

2. Rediscovering set-piece brilliance

Without Merino’s goal from a corner, Arsenal probably wouldn’t have beaten Chelsea 1–0 on Sunday afternoon. Whether mocked as “Set Piece FC” or not, Arsenal need to embrace this strength.  

Surprisingly, before Sunday, they had gone 12 matches in all competitions without scoring from a set-piece. That is disappointing, especially considering they had scored 12 set-piece goals in their first 21 Premier League games this season.  

Nicolas Jover, Arsenal’s set-piece coach, must come up with new strategies. In big games, where the margins are thin, set-pieces can be the decisive factor. 

Reinstating the fear factor around Arsenal’s set-pieces could be their secret weapon to knock out Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

3. The Ben White conundrum

By the time Arsenal are back in action, Ben White should be at peak fitness. So far, he has only managed 110 minutes of football since returning from injury.  

Mikel Arteta has hinted that he will not rush White into the team, but post-international break, excuses may no longer hold water.  

While White will need more minutes, benching Jurrien Timber in his current form would be a mistake. The Dutch full-back has been instrumental, ensuring Arsenal don’t miss Saka’s influence on the pitch.  

Does White earn his minutes by deputising for Timber, or is it time to reconsider White for a central defensive role? A combination of cameo appearances at right-back and central defence could help balance his game time and prevent frustration.

If these three issues are addressed by the time Arsenal return to action, there’s no reason the Gunners cannot be very optimistic of what a lot of 'experts' would consider an unlikely success in the Champions League...