Arsenal will now host Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on April 8 before Mikel Arteta’s side travel to the Bernabeu for the second leg on April 16.
And Merino claims Madrid’s ‘aura’ in the Champions League has been the talk of Arsenal’s dressing room.
‘They ask me what the stadium is like, what the atmosphere is like, if the aura surrounding Real Madrid in the Champions League and their comebacks are true,’ Merino told Onda Cero.
Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid on penalties to set up a Champions League tie with Arsenal (
‘And of course, when they’ve done it so many times, that’s the image people have of them.
That aura that Real Madrid has in the Champions League, of comebacks, of heroics, is no coincidence, when they do it so often.’
Merino was also asked who he considers as favourites to win the Champions League but the Arsenal midfielder insists there is not one standout team remaining in the competition.
‘Talking about favourites is very difficult because the Champions League shows you that the details make the difference,’ Merino said.
‘There are three or four teams that can be considered favourites, but you can’t just pick one.’
Elsewhere in the Champions League quarter final, Inter play Bayern Munich, Barcelona face Borussia Dortmund, while Aston Villa meet Paris Saint-Germain.
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