Atletico Madrid beat Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate to reach semis
Arsenal got past Sporting to make last four for second year in a row
Recommended bet: Both teams to score
Arsenal were beaten by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s Champions League semi-finals but they will be hoping to go one better this time around.
The Gunners topped the league phase and are favourites to see off Atletico Madrid to make the final.
However, the Premier League leaders have been below their best in recent weeks and may have to work hard in the Spanish capital.
If this current Arsenal team was facing a classic Diego Simeone side, a low-scoring game would be likely. This Atleti team are nothing like their defensive-minded predecessors, though, and an exciting first leg may play out at the Metropolitano on Wednesday.
Team news
Atletico will be without Pablo Barrios and Jose Maria Gimenez while Julian Alvarez is a minor doubt and will be assessed alongside Ademola Lookman and David Hancko.
Arsenal trio Kai Havertz, Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi were withdrawn in Saturday’s win over Newcastle and will have to be checked, as will Riccardo Calafiori, who remained on the bench against the Magpies.
Whoever misses out will join Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino on the sidelines but Bukayo Saka’s return over the weekend is a boost and he should be ready to start.
The stats
Arsenal are the only unbeaten side in this season’s competition, winning all of their league-phase games.
Including their extra-time defeat in the Copa del Rey final, Atletico Madrid have lost seven of their last nine matches.
Both teams have scored in four of the Gunners' last five away games.
The same bet has landed in eight of Atleti’s last nine matches.
Both teams have also scored in seven of the hosts' last eight outings at the Metropolitano.
Arsenal have won only two of their last seven games.
The latest Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Arsenal’s quarter-final against Sporting was a huge disappointment for neutrals as the pair managed just one goal between them, but the Gunners’ semi-final with Atletico should provide much more excitement.
Simeone’s ability to coach a rock-solid defence seems to have completely disappeared this season but they are certainly making up for that at the other end, scoring at least two goals in each of their last three games.
Breaking down Arsenal was a tricky task at one point in the campaign but one clean sheet in five away games shows they are not as watertight as they once were, with Timber’s continued absence a likely factor why.
Mikel Arteta would be happy with a draw in Madrid ahead of a home leg at the Emirates but he may have to be a bit more positive than usual to achieve that.
Saka’s return will help, though, so expect the Premier League leaders to score alongside their hosts on Wednesday.
Back Both teams to score at 17/20 with LiveScore Bet
The latest Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal odds are available on LiveScore Bet
