Arsenal have four key stars at risk of Champions League ban vs Real Madrid

will be eyeing up a place in the last four of the tonight when they travel to the Bernabeu Stadium to take on . But four Gunners stars will be walking a tightrope throughout the encounter as they are at risk of being banned for the semi-finals.

of their quarter-final showdown last week when the two sides met at the Emirates Stadium. Declan Rice grabbed the headlines after netting two wonderful free-kicks in the second half, with Mikel Merino adding a third to give the Gunners a comprehensive lead ahead of the return match. And if Arsenal can complete the job on Spanish soil they will set-up a mouthwatering clash with Paris Saint-Germain in the semis.

Arsenal will have all their attention on tonight's match in Madrid, with Real illustrating in the past that they are capable of overcoming deficits.

And Declan Rice, Gabriel Martinelli, Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey will have no intention of holding back, despite the fact they have each been cautioned on two occasions in this season's Champions League.

A third yellow card for any of the men would result in a ban in the semi-finals, which would be served in the opening leg of the tie.

Ahead of the match in Spain, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta explained: "Our preparation for the game has been about the things that we have to do, the things that we have to dominate throughout the game, in different phases, to give us the best possible chance to win the game. That's clear in our mindset.

"When you have to create a story, first of all you have to be excited about it. You have to be really prepared about it, and then you have to be really convinced about what you want to achieve.

"Then it's about insisting, and going step by step. A lot of clubs have built their history by doing it many times, trying many times, sometimes failing, sometimes being successful."

And former Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Petit told Express Sport in an as part of his role with : "Arsenal are going to suffer. In the first 15 minutes they will be under so much pressure.

"It could be something terrible if Madrid score a goal in the first 15 minutes. Things can turn very crazy over there.

"But I'm pretty confident with Arsenal if they can show the same composure and the same unity they showed last week."