Arsenal manager faces key midfield decision ahead of Real Madrid | OneFootball

Arsenal dismantled Liverpool 4-0 at the Emirates on Saturday, snapping back into rhythm at just the right moment before facing Real Madrid.

Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Arsenal defeated Liverpool 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday in front of 35,628 fans, delivering a much-needed result following a run of inconsistent performances since the return from the international break: a 4-3 win at home to West Ham, a 0-1 home defeat to Liverpool, a 3-1 victory away at Everton, and a 2-0 defeat in Madrid against Real in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images

With the return leg against Real Madrid looming on Wednesday and a two-goal deficit to overturn, this emphatic performance provided both a timely morale boost and a crucial tactical rehearsal. Arsenal must strike the balance between effective attacking play and disciplined structure, avoiding exposure to Madrid’s ruthless counter-attacking threat.

This remains a concern. Ahead of the first leg, I asked Renee Slegers about selecting the right double pivot. We all know what happened: Kyra Cooney-Cross lost possession high up the pitch, taking half of the team out of the play. Real Madrid countered, Leah Williamson missed the interception, and Linda Caicedo scored. It was a cheap goal to concede – and entirely preventable.

Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images

So what are Arsenal’s current options for the midfield double pivot?

The central question for Slegers ahead of Madrid, and for the remainder of the season, is which pairing offers the best balance of control and resilience. Against elite opposition, flair must be tempered by discipline.

Squad management has also come under scrutiny following Rosa Kafaji’s now-deleted Instagram story, which raised questions about her limited playing time. As Slegers clarified in her press conference, the Swedish forward is viewed primarily as a No. 10, but in that role, she sits behind Frida Maanum, Alessia Russo, and Mariona Caldentey in the pecking order.

Even as a winger, competition is fierce: Caitlin Foord, Beth Mead, Caldentey, Lina Hurtig, and Russo have all featured wide. In fact, Amanda Ilestedt has even been brought on as a late substitute in a forward role – specifically for her aerial threat – instead of deploying Kafaji in any of the attacking positions.

Right-back has also raised eyebrows. With Laura Wienroither sent on loan following her return from an ACL injury, Slegers appears to have excluded her from the backup plans for Emily Fox. Instead, we’ve seen makeshift options including centre-back Katie Reid, and wingers Hurtig and Foord, filling in on the right side of defence.

Managing a 25-player squad when fully fit is no small task. Slegers must keep every player engaged and ready, because discontent within the ranks can quickly unravel momentum.

As one former Lyon manager once told me: “I feel like I am doing a HR job, because I have 20 top-class players. There is no problem on the football side, they can do everything, I just need to keep them all happy.”

On the league front, Arsenal look well positioned to secure second or third place and, with it, Champions League qualification.

They sit seven points clear of Manchester City, who lost 2-1 at home to Chelsea over the weekend. Chelsea now top the table with 47 points, while both Arsenal and Manchester United sit on 39.