News Focus
- Arsenal welcome back captain Martin Odegaard and forward Kai Havertz from injury for the decisive second leg.
- The tie is level at 1-1 after the first match in Madrid, with the winner advancing to the Champions League final.
- Defender Jurrien Timber and midfielder Mikel Merino will miss the clash through injury.
- Atletico manager Diego Simeone jokes about changing hotels to save money, not due to superstition.
- The match kicks off at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday at 21:00 CEST (22:00 Kenyan time).
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has called on his players to seize their moment when they host Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night. The Gunners enter the match at the Emirates Stadium with the tie evenly balanced at 1-1 following the first leg in Spain.
The Spaniard confirmed good news for home fans regarding team selection. Captain Martin Odegaard and German striker Kai Havertz are both fit to start. Havertz missed the first match in Madrid because of injury. However, the north London side will be without defender Jurrien Timber and midfielder Mikel Merino, who must watch from the stands.
“We have more choices now,” Arteta told Spanish media on Monday. “It is excellent news that these players can help us. We have waited twenty years to reach this stage. Now we must show hunger and take this chance.”
The Arsenal boss wants his team to attack the game from the first whistle. He warned them against feeling sorry after the final whistle. “I do not want to hear the word ‘regret’ tomorrow night,” he said. “We must show great quality, clear thinking, and total commitment. I trust these players because they give me reasons to believe every day in training.”
Arteta also expects a tactical battle with many different phases. He explained that both teams will try to control the rhythm. “We will play several small games inside this one big match,” he said. “We must be ready for everything.”
Meanwhile, Atletico coach Diego Simeone says his team must control their feelings during the intense clash. When reporters asked if he changed hotels because of bad luck from a previous heavy defeat, the Argentine laughed. “The new hotel was simply cheaper,” he replied.
Arteta faces a happy problem at left-back. Both Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie are fit after separate injury problems. Young star Myles Lewis-Skelly also played well against Fulham at the weekend. Arteta praised Bukayo Saka, who made his first start in over a month during the 3-0 victory against Fulham. “We need players who can change the game at this stage,” Arteta added.
The winner of this tie will advance to the Champions League final. Arsenal are slight favourites according to bookmakers, but Atletico remain confident after their strong home performance in the first leg. Kick-off is at 21:00 CEST on Tuesday evening in London.