Arsenal host Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, aiming to reach their first final in the competition since 2006.
The tie is delicately poised at 1-1 following last week’s first leg in Madrid, where penalties from Viktor Gyökeres and Julián Álvarez settled a competitive encounter. Arsenal were left frustrated after having a second penalty overturned following a VAR review, with Mikel Arteta particularly aggrieved by the decision.
Atletico rested key players in Saturday’s 2-0 LaLiga victory over Valencia, while Arsenal had no such luxury as they maintain their Premier League title challenge. The Gunners delivered their most cohesive attacking performance in weeks with a 3-0 triumph over Fulham, providing momentum ahead of facing an Atletico side that can be vulnerable defensively.
Arsenal’s Unbeaten Run and Historical Quest
The Gunners remain the only unbeaten team in this season’s Champions League (W10 D3) and boast the competition’s meanest defence with eight clean sheets and just six goals conceded. They will set a new club record for their longest unbeaten streak in the competition (14 matches) if they progress to the final.
Arsenal are seeking to reach their first Champions League final since 2006 – should they succeed, it will be the longest period between finals by an English side since Liverpool in 2005 (also 20 years). Their last European Cup final appearance ended in defeat to Barcelona.
The Gunners have lost just two of their last 23 Champions League matches (W17 D4), both defeats coming against reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s semi-finals. They have avoided defeat away from home in the first leg of a European knockout tie on 10 previous occasions, progressing eight times, including the last five in a row.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last eight Champions League games against Spanish sides (W7 D1). Only Chelsea between March 2006 and April 2014 (16 games) have gone longer without losing to Spanish opposition in the competition.
David Raya has prevented more goals than any other goalkeeper in the Champions League since last season (+9.9), conceding 13 from 22.9 xG on target, while keeping the most clean sheets (14). Arsenal average just 0.65 goals conceded per game under Arteta in the competition – the lowest ratio for any manager with 20+ games.
Atletico’s Record-Breaking Campaign
Atletico have scored 35 Champions League goals this season, their most prolific European campaign to date. Álvarez leads the charge with 10 goals and could reach his third final under Diego Simeone (previously 2014 and 2016). Only Alex Ferguson with Manchester United and Marcello Lippi with Juventus (four each) have reached more finals with the same club.
Álvarez averages a goal or assist every 80 minutes in his Champions League career (34 in 2,710 minutes). Of strikers with 20+ goal involvements, only Erling Haaland (74) has a better ratio. The Argentine has 14 goal involvements in 14 games this season (10 goals, four assists) and leads all players for high-intensity pressures (899), accounting for 16.1% of Atletico’s total.
Antoine Griezmann could make his 128th and final appearance in major European competition – the fourth-most by a French player behind Karim Benzema (152), Thierry Henry (135) and Claude Makélélé (130). Griezmann is one of only four Frenchmen with 50+ European goals, alongside Benzema (90), Kylian Mbappé (78) and Henry (58).
However, Atletico have struggled away to English opposition, losing six of their last seven Champions League matches (W1), including the last four consecutively. Their 4-0 defeat at the Emirates in October remains their joint-heaviest Champions League loss.
Winless in two games against Arsenal this season (D1 L1), Atletico last faced an opponent three times in a campaign without victory in 2022-23 versus Real Madrid (D1 L2).
Key Battles
Declan Rice led all players in the first leg for line-breaking passes (12) and progressive carries (12), while completing the most passes (83). Rice has recorded two knockout games with 10+ line-breaking passes and 10+ progressive carries this season – only Vitinha has more among midfielders.
Gyökeres could become just the third player to score in both legs of a Champions League semi-final for a Premier League team, after Sadio Mané for Liverpool and Riyad Mahrez for Manchester City.
Arsenal remain unbeaten against Atletico in the Champions League (W1 D1). Only Carlo Ancelotti and Maurizio Sarri (three each) have gone unbeaten in their first three games against Simeone in the competition.
Team News
Arsenal
Bukayo Saka was withdrawn at half-time against Fulham as a precaution ahead of Tuesday’s match. Martin Ødegaard (knee) and Kai Havertz (muscle) are doubts and will be assessed. Jurrien Timber (groin) and Mikel Merino (foot) are ruled out.
Myles Lewis-Skelly excelled in midfield during Saturday’s rare start, but a well-rested Martin Zubimendi will likely be restored to the starting XI. Piero Hincapié should return at left-back ahead of Riccardo Calafiori.
Atletico Madrid
Álvarez is expected to start after examinations ruled out serious injury following his first-leg withdrawal. The Argentine broke a Lionel Messi record in Madrid, becoming the quickest Argentine to reach 25 Champions League goals (41 games vs Messi’s 42).
Álvarez has been included in the 25-man squad alongside Giuliano Simeone, Alexander Sørloth and Jose Gimenez. Pablo Barrios and Nico González (both thigh) are the only absentees.
Manager Quotes
Mikel Arteta: “We are in an incredible position – the semi-final of the Champions League. We have to play in front of our people – it’s in our hands.”
Diego Simeone: “I’m going to tell my players to play like they did in the second half at home. We’ll try to play the match that needs to be played, with the intensity it demands. We have a lot of faith in what we do.”
Form Guide
Arsenal
The Gunners Left Madrid feeling they could have achieved more despite a solid 1-1 draw. Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Fulham provided a confidence boost, with Saka and Gyökeres particularly impressive. The attack looked free-flowing and aggressive – exactly what’s needed against Simeone’s defensively organised side. Arsenal have won two of their last three matches and sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Atletico Madrid
Atletico approach the return leg without significant domestic pressure after securing the top four in LaLiga. Simeone rotated heavily against Valencia, resting key players for Tuesday’s showdown. Spring form has been mixed – seven defeats in eight matches preceded a recent revival. The visitors possess experience, Griezmann’s composure, Álvarez’s dynamism, and Simeone’s tactical nous in high-pressure encounters. They have progressed from six of their previous 10 European two-legged ties when drawing the first leg at home.
Predicted Lineups
Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyökeres, Martinelli
Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Le Normand, Ruggeri; Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Lookman; Alvarez, Griezmann
Prediction
Arsenal’s home advantage, superior form and defensive solidity make them favourites. Their 4-0 demolition of Atletico in October demonstrated their capability, while the visitors’ struggles away to English opposition offer further encouragement. However, Simeone’s experience in knockout football and Atletico’s attacking threat through Álvarez ensure this will be far from straightforward.
We say: Arsenal 2-0 Atletico Madrid (Arsenal win 3-1 on aggregate)
Kick-off: Tuesday, 8:00 PM BST
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany)
VAR: Bastian Dankert (Germany)
Last Meeting: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Arsenal, April 29, 2026, Champions League Semi-Final 1st Leg
How to watch: Amazon Prime Video (UK)
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