Joe Cole makes Arsenal vs Real Madrid prediction ahead of quarter-finals | Football

Joe Cole has made a prediction for Arsenal’s upcoming Champions League quarter-final showdown with Real Madrid.

Arsenal and Real Madrid both booked their spots in the last eight on Wednesday night, with the Gunners defeating PSV 9-3 over two legs.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men required a penalty shootout to eliminate their city rivals Atletico Madrid, setting up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash.

Arsenal have never won the Champions League before in their history while Real Madrid are the record winners having clinched 15 trophies.

Real Madrid are the defending champions in this season’s competition having defeated Borussia Dortmund in last year’s European final.

The La Liga side will surely head into quarter-final tie as big favourites given their history in the Champions League – but Cole firmly believes the Gunners have what it takes to stun the Spanish giants next month.

‘This team and this club (Arsenal) can beat anybody over two legs,’ Cole told TNT Sports after Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against PSV in the second leg.

‘There’s a lot of holes in their squad at the moment, they haven’t got a recognised striker. A lot of injuries. But sometimes that can galvanise you.

‘Sometimes, something will click, there will be a moment and they’ll go, ‘Right lads, we have an opportunity here’.’

Fellow football pundit Martin Keown believes his former club Arsenal have sent shockwaves across Europe with their 9-3 aggregate win over PSV.

‘To win as they did, 7-1 [in the first leg], 9-3 overall… that will ripple across Europe,’ Keown added. ‘Arsenal will be a formidable opponent in the next round [for Real Madrid].

‘Arsenal will be respected. One by one, players are coming back. Bukayo Saka is quite close. Gabriel Martinelli is back available. Things start to turn around. The players will really be up for the next round.’

Meanwhile, Keown singled out Oleksandr Zinchenko and Raheem Sterling for praise after Arsenal’s 2-2 second leg draw against PSV.

Zinchenko scored the opening goal of the match at the Emirates while Sterling provided both assists with both men registering impressive performances.

‘He was a player I was watching with great interest,’ Keown said about Zinchenko. ‘I know he’s highly thought of behind the scenes.

‘I thought he put in a good performance today. It was quite interesting, his role. He played quite deep in midfield but then went forward into the No.10 and grabbed his goal. That’s all he can do.’

Keown added: ‘Raheem Sterling was one of the ones we were anxious to see. In spells he was excellent.

‘His involvement in two of the goals was probably the best football we have seen from him all season, and we are nearing the end of the season, so it has been a long time coming.’

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