Arsenal Seven Games Away from Best Season Ever, But a Blunder Could Still Loom

Mikel Arteta's squad has finished as Premier League runners-up three times, and while they currently lead the domestic league, Manchester City is hot on their heels.

Last year, "The Gunners" also fell just short in Europe, exiting the Champions League semi-finals to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. The year prior, they were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.

Arsenal has never lifted the trophy for Europe's most prestigious club competition. Their sole final appearance in the 2006 season ended in defeat to FC Barcelona. Currently, the Premier League has become the London club's holy grail. However, securing their first Champions League title would be an equally exceptional rebuttal to those who doubt the team's mental fortitude.

Just seven matches now separate Arsenal from their most successful season in club history. Yet, they cannot afford any slip-ups.

Declan Rice wants his teammates to prove that past experiences have strengthened their resolve in their pursuit of making history.

"We've played in tough games over the last three or four years at the highest level, so we know what's coming. It's been like that all season, and that's how we want it to be at the end. We're Champions League semi-finalists, let's go for it, enjoy it, and bring it onto the pitch," he stated.

The question remains whether Arsenal can deliver in the most crucial moments. Over the weekend, the "Gunners" secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Newcastle United, which wasn't a convincing answer to their critics.

Ahead of the match in Madrid, there are doubts about the availability of Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz. Eze, with ten goals this season, is in fine form, and Rice hopes he'll be fit. "That's exactly why he came here. I said a few weeks ago that his ability to strike the ball is incredible. What a player, what a guy. He's going to be very important for us in these coming weeks. We really need him," Rice added.