Brentford boss Thomas Frank has made a prediction for the Champions League showdown between Arsenal and Real Madrid on Wednesday.
The Gunners head into the quarter-final second leg clash at the Bernabeu with a 3-0 lead after hammering the Spanish side at home in the first leg.
But Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham has warned Arsenal that ‘anything can happen’ in the mouth-watering fixture in the Spanish capital.
The La Liga champions are the most successful team in the history of the Champions League – having clinched 15 titles – and are the current holders.
Frank, though, speaking after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Brentford on Saturday, has suggested that he thinks the north Londoners will progress.
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The Danish head coach is adamant that Mikel Arteta’s side will be ‘fine’ as he spoke about the game in his post-match press conference.
Asked for his own approach if he was heading to the Bernabeu with a 3-0 lead, Frank said: ‘I’m not (laughing) but I’d love the challenge!
‘I think you need to speak with Mikel about that. He and his coaches have shown how good they are and how much they’ve progressed as a club.
‘Mikel has done an exceptional job to make Arsenal extremely competitive for the last three years.
‘They are in a good position. Looking from the outside, Arsenal work hard and they are very good defensively.
‘They’re very good on defensive set-pieces. So I think they’ll be fine [against Real Madrid on Wednesday].’
Arteta, meanwhile, says Arsenal must now start preparing ‘for the most beautiful game of the season’ against Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
‘We still have six games to play in the Premier League – which are going to be really important for sure – but, for now, it’s all about Wednesday,’ Arteta said.
‘Now it is time to recover well and tomorrow we have to start to prepare for the most beautiful game of the season.’
Quizzed if the Real Madrid game was in the players’ minds against Brentford, Arteta added: ‘No.
‘I think the players know that when you come to the Premier League and the position that we played today, how tough it was going to be and what it requires and it requires your best every time to win.’
Arteta has also provided injury updates on Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Ben White ahead of the second leg with Real Madrid.