Arsenal will host Atletico Madrid in one of the most important games to both sides today at the Emirates Stadium, London. The winner of the tie will secure a ticket to the final game of the UEFA champions League against either Paris Saint Germain or Bayern Munich on May 30.

When the teams met last week, the game ended 1-1, both netting from the spot, which means that a winner must emerge in the race for the final ticket.

In the first leg, Arsenal thought they should have had a second penalty when Eberechi Eze was clipped inside the box.
For Arsenal, Bukayo Saka’s return from injury has jolted the Gunners’ attack back into life just in time for them to dream of a Premier League and Champions League double.

Saka scored and provided an assist for Viktor Gyokeres on Saturday as Mikel Arteta’s men bagged three goals for the first time in 16 games in their 3-0 win over Fulham.

All three goals arrived before Saka was withdrawn by Arteta at half-time to protect the England winger, who has been nursing an Achilles injury in recent months.

“He certainly made a difference. He made two actions that decided the game, and we know what he’s capable of,” Arteta said as per Aljazeera.com.

“He’s come back in the most important period of the season, and now he’s fresh. His mind is fresh, his hunger is at the highest possible height and I think he needed a performance like that to impact the team, so that’s a big platform for Tuesday.”

For Atletico Madrid, striker Julian Alvarez, the consequences of today’s semifinal clash at Arsenal may go beyond booking a ticket to Budapest at the end of May.

The Argentinian forward, linked with a move to Arsenal, as well as to Spanish champions Barcelona, has seemed at times to be getting itchy feet in the Spanish capital.

Alvarez recently brushed off the rumours, eager to focus on his team’s chances of silverware this year and worrying about his future later – at least in public.

“I try not to pay too much attention to (rumours) because something new comes out every week, new information, and I don’t waste my energy on that,” Alvarez said before the 1-1 first leg last week.

“Instead, I try to focus on what we’re doing. It’s the most important time of the season, and I want to be in good shape so I can help the team and do great things here.”

Looking ahead to a fierce encounter, Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, said: “We are in an incredible position – the semifinal of the Champions League. We have to play in front of our people. It’s in our hands.”

His opponent, Diego Simeone believes that his side will survive in London despite the absence of some of their vociferous fans. “Rarely have we seen such enthusiasm (from the fans) as we had at the start (of the first leg). They won’t all be there for the second leg, but their hearts and souls will be.”

Arsenal fans will be banking on Victor Gyokeres to shoot down the invaders from Madrid and the Swede is not shying away from the task: “We know when we play at home with our fans, it’s going to be different, for sure. We just have to do our job, be at our best, and it’s going to be a good game at home.”

But veteran Atletico Madrid forward, Antoine Griezmann, says his team will not be fazed by whatever Arsenal will throw at them in London: “We played better in the second half (of the first leg). We also played with more intensity. That’s the way to go, and that’s what we’ll do in the second leg. It’ll be a great game.”

The two clubs have faced each other on only four occasions with each winning one game and two matches ending as draws.

Before meeting this season, the previous encounter ended up being the last European tie for former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

The winner of this tie will hope to end their long wait for a maiden title as neither side have ever been European champions.

Atletico reached the final in 2014 and 2016 and were beaten on both occasions by archrivals Real Madrid, while Arsenal lost the 2006 final 1-2 to Barcelona.