Mikel Arteta Urges Arsenal to Go Like Beasts in Atlético Second Leg
mikel arteta has told Arsenal to attack Tuesday night’s second leg against Atlético Madrid “like beasts” as they try to reach the Champions League final for the first time since 2006. The tie is level at 1-1 after last week’s first leg, and Arsenal need one more sharp home performance to keep their season alive.
Arteta’s Arsenal Message
Arteta wanted the tone set early. “Go and grab it. When you are in front of such an opportunity, it means that you are ready to deliver, and the team is going to go for the first minute to go and get that,” he said.
He added: “We are so hungry to get the game that we want tomorrow and go through to that final.” The clearest line came at the end of his message: “The only thing I have is to finish preparing tomorrow, as best as possible, the game, the team, and that we go out there like beasts, enjoy the moment and go for it.”
Emirates Stadium Edge
Arsenal will host Atlético Madrid at the Emirates Stadium, where they have won five of their six Champions League matches this season and conceded only three goals in those six home games. That record is the practical backdrop to the second leg: Arsenal have already shown they can control European nights in their own ground.
Viktor Gyökeres is one reason the matchup still leans Arsenal’s way. He scored twice in the 4-0 win over Atlético Madrid during the group stage, a result that still sits behind this tie as a reference point for both teams.
Ødegaard and Havertz Return
Arsenal should also have more options than they did at the weekend. Martin Ødegaard is set to return after missing Saturday’s win over Fulham, and Kai Havertz is also expected to be involved.
That gives Arteta more room to push from the opening whistle, with Atlético arriving after knocking out Barcelona in the quarter-finals. Diego Simeone’s side also changed hotels for this trip, switching to the Courthouse Hotel in Shoreditch after staying at the Marriott in Regent’s Park in October, when they were beaten 4-0.
For Arsenal, the task is simple: turn a level tie into a place in the final. The club reached that stage only once before, in 2006, when it lost to Barcelona, and this second leg at the Emirates offers another chance to end that wait.
