London, UK – Arsenal welcomes Atlético Madrid to the Emirates Stadium today for a highly anticipated Champions League clash. Both teams are eager to secure a win in this League Phase encounter.
Arsenal enters the match with a perfect record in the tournament, having won their first two matches against Athletic Club and Olympiacos with clean sheets. The Gunners are currently fifth in the overall standings and are aiming to continue their winning streak and secure a spot in the Round of 16. However, manager Mikel Arteta faces a selection dilemma in midfield, as Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice are one booking away from a one-game suspension. Arsenal is on a five-game winning streak across all competitions and is looking for their 12th straight Champions League league phase or group-stage game at home without conceding a goal.
Atlético Madrid, managed by Diego Simeone, arrives in London with three points after a mixed start to their European campaign. They suffered a 3-2 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield but bounced back with a 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. Simeone's team has shown attacking prowess but will face a tough challenge against Arsenal's solid defense. Atlético has struggled on the road, failing to win in their last five away games across all competitions. They also have a poor record in England, with only one win in their last 11 matches.
Arsenal and Atletico Madrid have only met twice before, in the semi-finals of the 2017-18 Europa League, where Atlético emerged victorious. Four members of Atlético's squad from that Europa League-winning team are still with the club.
Team News:
Arsenal will be without key players such as Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus due to knee injuries. Piero Hincapie is available after recovering from a groin injury. Leandro Trossard, who scored the winning goal against Fulham, will be hoping to retain his place in the starting lineup.
Atlético Madrid has included Nico Gonzalez in their travelling party despite a head injury sustained in their previous match. Johnny Cardoso is unavailable for selection.
Match Details:
The match will take place at the Emirates Stadium in London. Kick-off is scheduled for 8 pm BST. The referee for the match is Davide Massa.
Tactical Battle:
The match is expected to be a tactical battle between Arteta's precision and Simeone's intensity. Arsenal will likely focus on dictating possession and utilizing wing play, while Atlético will rely on their compact shape and counter-attacking prowess. According to Charles Watts, a Gunners expert, this match "probably will be quite open" and he is "expecting quite an exciting game".
Controversy:
There was a minor controversy before the match as Atlético Madrid players were left without hot water after training at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal has since apologized for the inconvenience, stating that it was an innocent mistake that affected both dressing rooms and was rectified as soon as the problem was realized.
