Martin ødegaard urges Arsenal to seize Atlético Madrid chance
martin ødegaard says Arsenal must carry past lessons into Wednesday night’s Champions League semi-final first leg at Atlético Madrid. The captain said the club will stay open to criticism until they win a major trophy, but insisted they are in position to do something special.
Ødegaard at Atlético Madrid
“It’s always going to be there until we win and that’s something you have to live with,” Ødegaard said on the eve of the tie. He added: “We need to take all our experiences and the lessons and use them in a good way.”
The Norwegian linked that message directly to Arsenal’s run last season, when they exited the Champions League in the semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain. He also pointed to the three straight Premier League runner-up finishes that have kept the club under pressure to turn strong seasons into a trophy.
Arsenal’s squad decisions
Arsenal go into the match with Kai Havertz unavailable after he limped out of Saturday’s league win over Newcastle. Eberechi Eze remained in the squad despite a fitness concern from that same game, and Riccardo Calafiori also travelled.
Manager Mikel Arteta said the team would adapt to any context, with a weather warning in place for Madrid and electrical storm and heavy rain forecast. The Metropolitano Stadium pitch had already drawn criticism, after Barcelona complained the grass was too long there and some Tottenham players struggled for footing in the last 16 first leg.
Arteta’s attack plan
Arsenal are top of the table and still chasing their first league title since 2004, so the pressure around this tie reaches beyond one night in Madrid. Ødegaard said he wants to take “the last step” and do something really big, while Arteta stressed, “The opportunity is in front of us and we have to attack it.”
That leaves Arsenal with a clear task: use the semi-final to change the conversation that has followed them through the last three years and into another spring with silverware still out of reach. A result at Atlético would move them closer to that shift fast.
