Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics:Â Arsenal, Champions League, Real Madrid, UEFA, Football, Mikel Arteta
Ben McCrum
Topics:Â Arsenal, Champions League, Real Madrid, UEFA, Football, Mikel Arteta
Arsenal have been forced to change the name of the Emirates stadium ahead of their Champions League quarter-final match with Real Madrid.
On Tuesday night, the Gunners will continue their campaign to finally lift the Champions League trophy as they welcome reigning title holders Real Madrid to England for the first leg of their quarter final clash.
With Arsenal star Bukayo Saka back after a lengthy hamstring injury and Madrid quartet Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Dani Ceballos all available for selection after potential bans, the match is expected to be perhaps the most exciting of the season so far.
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But any fans watching the game will notice that Arsenal have made a big change going into the match, as they've been forced to rename the Emirates Stadium.
A little-known UEFA rule means that the Emirates Stadium will instead be referred to as the Arsenal Stadium for the duration of the Champions League match on Tuesday.
The rule means that the European governing body refuses to recognise stadium sponsors for both club and international competitions.
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This also means that Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena will be called the Munich football arena for their quarter final opening leg against Inter Milan, as was the case when the stadium was used during the 2024 European Championships.
Earlier in the competition, Arsenal's fellow Premier League side Manchester City, ditched the Etihad sponsorship and listed the stadium under its original name of The City of Manchester Stadium for European competition.
The sponsorship rules have also led to some clubs changing their names to comply with UEFA regulations.
Austria's Red Bull Salzburg are known as FC Salzburg in European competition and use a modified crest to adhere to the strict rules.
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When asked of Tuesday's match with Real Madrid was the biggest game of his managerial career, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: "100 per cent.
"It's a joy to prepare the game, to look at the reaction of people, and how we feel about ourselves coming into a game of this magnitude and the excitement around the club.
"This is proper now, the last stages of the competition. This is where we want to be and where Arsenal have to be consistently. We are very proud to be there and we're very ready to deliver tomorrow."