Let's make our own history at the Bernabéu, says Arteta

Real Madrid's history has loomed large with its epic comebacks but now it is time for Arsenal to write their own, Mikel Arteta says.

- Sid Lowe

For all the noise and the narrative, for all that many have crumbled here against the European champions, the Arsenal manager insisted there is no fear and that his team are ready to step into the Bernabéu.

Arteta reminded everyone of a simple fact lost at times over the past seven days: they do lead this tie, 3-0. "If I had to pick one of the scenarios that I want the most, it would be this one," he said.

Asked if there was any fear, the Arsenal manager replied: "No, I wouldn't use that word." Instead, he talked of "respect, admiration and values, an inspiration for any team and any manager" and that was how he is framing this game: not as something to be scared of, although he admitted that it would be "impossible" to completely block out the noise, and that the "narrative is fuel for them", but something to aspire to. This is a night they must enjoy, Arteta said, and one that he would like to play in himself.

It is also a game that he said they must approach as they did the first leg, with the aim not of protecting the three-goal lead they have but of beating Madrid again. They will do so with Ben White and Thomas Partey, who are available, but not Jorginho, who was unable to travel to Spain.