Key Takeaways
- Mikel Arteta demands a dominant display from Arsenal to prove their European credentials in Madrid.
- Both sides face significant injury blows ahead of the high-stakes clash at the Metropolitano.
- The Gunners boss refuses to blame poor pitch conditions or stormy weather for any potential result.
Mikel Arteta has ordered his Arsenal squad to send a powerful message to Europe when they face Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night. The Gunners arrive at the Metropolitano Stadium as favourites to advance to the final.
Both clubs face injury setbacks. Atletico will miss midfielder Pablo Barrios and forward Nicolas Gonzalez. Arsenal are without key attacker Kai Havertz and defender Jurrien Timber. However, Eberechi Eze, Riccardo Calafiori and Bukayo Saka are fit to start.
Arteta praised the Spanish side and their manager. He said Diego Simeone deserves huge respect for his 15 years of work. He noted that Atletico have every right to be at this stage of the competition. Despite this, the Arsenal manager believes his team can win on any ground.
“We want to make a statement,” Arteta declared. “We have worked with passion and quality for nine months to reach this level. Now we must show how good we are and how much we want to reach the final.”
The Arsenal manager confirmed his team will attack. He said they have prepared specifically to win the match. “We must be ourselves and impose our style,” he explained.
Arteta knows Atletico can build dangerous momentum during games. He warned his players to recognise these moments quickly. “We have the tools to control the game. We have seen them dominate other teams. We must detect when they grow strong and stop it,” he said.
Recent reports in England claim the pitch at the Metropolitano is in poor condition. Some suggest this could help the home side. Storms are also forecast for Madrid on match night. Arteta dismissed these concerns. He said his team adapts to every stadium and weather condition. “We have played many games in the last nine months. We focus only on winning,” he stated.
Earlier, Simeone claimed big clubs like Arsenal are interested in signing Julian Alvarez. Arteta refused to discuss the Argentine striker. Instead, he spoke about his respect for the Atletico boss. “We share a passion for football. What he has achieved here is remarkable. He is an absolute reference point for managers,” Arteta said.
Arteta insisted that Arsenal’s 4-0 victory over Atletico in the group stage means nothing now. He reminded reporters that the club spent seven years outside the Champions League. He takes nothing for granted against tough opponents.
The match kicks off at 21:00 local time in Madrid. The second leg takes place at the Emirates Stadium next Tuesday.