Former Spain manager Javier Clemente says Arsenal were lucky to score three goals against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

Speaking to Radio Marca, Clemente claimed that the Gunners are fortunate to take such a commanding lead to the Bernabeu and he expects them to “shrink” when they play in the Spanish capital on Wednesday night:

“Arsenal had a lot of nerve. You replay that game and they wouldn’t have scored three against them, not even in a joke.”

“Madrid has the quality to come back. Whether they’re accurate is another matter. If they have three clear chances and send them wide or take penalties like they’ve been doing lately, well, forget it. But they’ll have chances”

“The English side are very competitive at home, but away they shrink. It’s not the same to play with everything in their favor in London as to come to the Bernabéu with 80,000 fans on their shoulders and Real Madrid smelling blood.”

Arsenal were the better team

While Mikel Arteta’s side scored some fantastic goals in the first game at the Emirates, they also had other opportunities to find the back of the net.

Based on the fact that the Gunners accrued a total of 1.64 xG to Real’s 0.5, it demonstrates that the home team were deserved winners, although the margin of victory was higher than expected.

Real Madrid are not in great form

Clemente says that Real have the “quality to come back” but their recent results suggest they will have to improve massively if they are to achieve such a dramatic turnaround.

Since the international break, they have struggled defensively, winning 3-2 against Leganes, drawing 4-4 with Real Sociedad in the Copa Del Rey and conceding three against Arsenal.

If they can’t keep a clean sheet next week, Arsenal will be the red-hot favourites to secure their place in the semi-finals.

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