Mikel Arteta: I’d just stay at home if Arsenal didn’t have desire to win title
Mikel Arteta: I’d just stay at home if Arsenal didn’t have desire to win title
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Eberechi Eze is expected to be in the squad for the first leg of Arsenal's Champions League semi-final tie against Atletico Madrid.
The Gunners travel to the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday night to take on Diego Simeone's side, who they beat 4-0 in the league phase of the competition in October.
Eze had been a doubt for the match after he was forced off against Newcastle over the weekend but he took part in Arsenal's open training session on Tuesday.
He is set to be involved in Madrid, but Mikel Arteta could opt to be cautious with his fitness and name him on the bench.
Gabriel Martinelli has scored six goals in the Champions League this season and is pushing to start on the left wing, offering more pace on the counter-attack.
Kai Havertz will miss the match with the muscular injury he picked up against Newcastle, though that injury is not believed to be a serious one.
With the German out, Viktor Gyokeres is likely to get the nod to lead the line over Gabriel Jesus.
In contention: Eberechi Eze has shrugged off an injury ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Atletico Madrid
Bukayo Saka could make his first start in more than a month having recovered from an Achilles injury. The winger looked sharp in a brief cameo off the bench last time out and Arteta might decide to restore him to the starting lineup for such a big occasion.
Jurrien Timber did not train on Tuesday and is set to once again be absent for Arsenal.
Although Riccardo Calafiori is available again, Arteta could opt for the more defensive full-back combination of Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Gyokeres
Injured: Timber, Merino, Havertz
Time and date: 8pm BST on Wednesday April 29, 2026
Venue: Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid
How to watch: TNT Sports