Back to the Arsenal Newsfeed

Arsenal's fringe players show they CAN step up against Real Madrid, writes ISAAN KHAN - it won't be easy, but here's why the Gunners are Champions League contenders

With their dead-rubber Champions League last-16 second leg against PSV Eindhoven out of the way, Arsenal can now look forward.

The 7-1 drubbing of PSV at the Philips Stadion last week made Wednesday night a matter of red tape.

It is Real Madrid who the Gunners will face in the Champions League quarter-finals next month, yet Arsenal’s 2-2 draw last night gave a further glimpse as to why they have a shot in this tournament.

Mikel Arteta rung the changes to his starting line-up. Not in an extravagant fashion — the likes of Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Ismeal Kabia were on the bench, for example — but enough to see the further options the north London club have in a number of different areas for the latter stages.