Arteta Rallies Arsenal Ahead of Semi-Final Showdown with Atletico Madrid

Key Takeaways:

• Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his squad to “make a statement” against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday night
• Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber are sidelined for the Gunners due to injury, while Pablo Barrios and Nicolas Gonzalez will miss out for the hosts
• Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 CEST in Madrid, with the return leg set for next Tuesday at the Emirates

Team News and Build-Up

Arsenal approach their Champions League semi-final opener at the Metropolitano as favourites, but both sides will be forced to contend with notable absences. Atletico Madrid are unable to call upon Pablo Barrios and Nicolas Gonzalez owing to injury concerns. The North London side, meanwhile, will be missing influential attacker Kai Havertz and defender Jurrien Timber. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed: “Kai is out, Eberechi Eze is available, as is Riccardo and Bukayo Saka,” while also stating Timber did not make the squad.

🚨🗣️ 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Arteta: "We have shown in Europe in ANY ground what we are capable of. We come here to win the game." pic.twitter.com/5JY6e3Oyk8

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) April 28, 2026

Arteta’s Mindset Ahead of Atletico Challenge

Reflecting on the clash, Arteta was quick to praise the experience and accomplishments of Diego Simeone’s Atletico, describing the tie as against “a team that has a manager with a lot of experience in the competition.” The Spanish tactician emphasised the importance of confidence and intent on such an occasion: “And tomorrow we have to play with that confidence, that desire to come here, to win the game.”

Arteta is keen for his side to seize the moment: “Now is the moment to make a statement, to show how good we are, how much we want it, and to go out and do it.” He continued, “We have prepared the game to win it. There’s no question about it, we have to be ourselves, and to do what we can with the opponent, and hopefully we can show the quality we can show.”

Tactical Considerations at the Metropolitano

With Atletico renowned for building momentum at home, Arteta noted the necessity for his players to “understand the moments they do that, and detecting them, and ensuring they don’t happen.”

He commented on the differing styles, stating, “We have a lot of tools, to be dominant, to impose our way of playing, and Atletico, the same, in different ways, but both teams will try to do so.” The emphasis, he highlighted, will be on matching Atletico for belief and maintaining composure during hostile spells.

Surface and Weather Conditions No Concern

The Metropolitano’s pitch condition has attracted scrutiny in England, but Arteta dismissed its significance, stating, “Every opponent, and every context, stadium, the style, the manager, is different, and they have to be highlighted, whether they are strengths or weaknesses. Especially against them, there are moments in the game we have to manage so, so well, in order to win the game.”

He also brushed aside concerns over the forecast stormy weather in Madrid, adding, “We adapt to any context, for the last nine months, imagine the amount of games we have played, so we adapt to any conditions to be ourselves.”

Respect Between Managers and Previous Meetings

Diego Simeone recently remarked that it was “only normal” for clubs such as Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona to show interest in Julian Alvarez. Arteta declined to comment on the Argentine forward, but further highlighted his respect for his opposite number. “The first thing is the passion for the game, for the profession. What he has done, changing the club over 15 years, the way he has done it, the results, the consistency, the way he’s done it, tackling any challenge. It’s something to look at.”

Despite Arsenal’s convincing 4-0 victory over Atletico during the Champions League group phase, Arteta downplayed its relevance for this semi-final: “There are a lot of positive messages I can send to the team. But we know a lot about this team, and what they can do, especially here. Now they have some experience in these kind of games too, so it will be difficult. A very short time ago, this club went seven years without the Champions League, so I don’t take anything for granted.”

Fixture Details