Arsenal host Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal, with the tie finely poised at 1-1 after a first leg dominated by penalty decisions.
Bukayo Saka's return from injury has revitalized Arsenal's attack. He scored and assisted in a 3-0 win over Fulham, before being substituted at half-time to protect his Achilles. Manager Mikel Arteta hailed his impact, stating Saka's freshness and hunger are crucial for the decisive period.
Atletico striker Julian Alvarez, linked with a move away, dismissed transfer rumors, focusing on helping his team achieve silverware. He emphasized the importance of the current moment over speculation.
Neither club has ever won the Champions League. Arsenal reached the final in 2006, losing to Barcelona, while Atletico lost to Real Madrid in the 2014 and 2016 finals.
Arsenal will be without Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino due to injuries, but Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz are expected to be fit. Atletico's Pablo Barrios and Nico Gonzalez are ruled out, while several others face late fitness tests.
Source: www.aljazeera.com