Rio Ferdinand makes huge Real Madrid vs Arsenal Champions League prediction - 'Trust me'

is under the impression that have what it takes to see out victory in their Champions League quarter-final vs Real Madrid - though he also warns of the Santiago Bernabeu's influence from first-hand experience.

were in dreamland following their . That was earned by way of a rigid defensive display capped off by two stunning free-kicks and a finish.

Still, Real are Real, and their pedigree as 15-time competition winners speaks for itself.

The fact Arsenal must still travel away from home and make sure they do not concede their strong advantage to this team in particular has meant question marks hang over their progression into the semi-finals.

"If Madrid score first and then there's around half-an-hour to play. Rah! Then bum's gonna be speaking for you lot [Arsenal]!" That is how Ferdinand sees Wednesday's return leg, speaking on the latest edition of the .

But ultimately, the former defender-turned-pundit predicted: "I think Arsenal go through, trust me. I do.

"I think it's going to be too much. Listen, I think Arsenal will go through. I think they've got too much.

"I think this Real Madrid team looked a bit disjointed the other day, the balance of the team and the squad hasn't been right and they've been conceding goals left, right and centre.

"[Bukayo] Saka coming back was the big thing and that changed everything for Arsenal. If Saka's not there, I don't think they would have won 3-0. But it is that and I think Arsenal are going to go through.

"I'm backing Arsenal to go through. If my life's on the line now, I'm going Arsenal to go through, not a problem."

From his own glittering career, Ferdinand knows just how difficult Arsenal's opposition can make life for whoever they are faced with.

In his case, he played at the Santiago Bernabeu three times, drawing once and losing once each with Manchester United and before that Leeds United.

So, the Gunners were warned: "I'm just saying - that club Real Madrid is a mystic club. If Arsenal go behind it could be a different story.

"But I still think Arsenal will go through because they're going to score."

Tuesday, a day out from the Gunners' own challenge, is still set to provide Mikel Arteta and his men with a certain amount of clarity for their future in Europe.

The winner between them and Real will face either one of Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa in the semi-final. With the French giants leading their tie 3-1 after the first leg, the decisive return meeting takes place at Villa Park at 8pm tonight.