football.london reporters select their Arsenal starting XIs for the Champions League semi-final clash at Atletico Madrid
15:58, 28 Apr 2026
Martin Zubimendi and Bukayo Saka
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Martin Zubimendi and Bukayo Saka could both start for Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid
Arsenal are looking to put one foot in Budapest when they travel to Atletico Madrid for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Jurrien Timber was still absent from training on Tuesday, indicating he is unlikely to play a part for the Gunners at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Kai Havertz was also missing after he was forced off with a groin issue on Saturday in the 1-0 home win over Newcastle.
Mikel Arteta has plenty to ponder with his starting XI and football.london reporters Tom Canton and Ryan Taylor have taken their stab at selecting their teams to face Atletico.
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Tom Canton
The absence of Kai Havertz is a real blow to this team, and it looks as if he will miss both legs, which is even more damaging. The Gunners have struggled when Viktor Gyokeres has partnered with both Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke.
However, for this game, I think they’re the two wingers who should start. Therefore, Gabriel Jesus is my pick at centre-forward with Gyokeres to come on with Bukayo Saka later on for a late impact in this game. Eberechi Eze is critical to this team’s potential success and needs to be in the side, so he moves into the central area with Martin Odegaard.
Declan Rice becomes the lone number six, giving Arsenal a lot more central creativity to overwhelm Atletico, who are without the injured Barrios. It leaves the back line enough cover and aims to catch them off guard.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Atletico Madrid: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Odegaard, Eze; Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli
Bukayo Saka
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Bukayo Saka missed both of Arsenal's quarter-final matches against Sporting CP(Image: Javier Garcia/Shutterstock)
Ryan Taylor
I've gone for a slightly different XI to Tom. We've got the same back-five, including David Raya and I think Cristhian Mosquera will be summoned to play full-back again as Arsenal need to try and keep their 29th clean sheet of the season.
Martin Zubimendi is a must, even if he's shattered, as the Gunners will need to keep the ball and disrupt Atletico when they try to launch attacks.
Martin Odegaard would operate as my No.10 with Bukayo Saka recalled on the right and Ebere Eze keeping his place on the left.
If Saka is not ready to start, I would play Gabriel Martinelli over Noni Madueke as I think the Brazilian could have a big role to play tomorrow night, even if that is only from the bench.
His speed could be key to stretching Atletico on the break, particularly as Diego Simeone's side likes to attack, unlike other Atletico teams of the past, that were capable of grinding out narrow 1-0 wins.
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Up front, I would go for Viktor Gyokeres in the absence of Kai Havertz. He works tirelessly and while the technical side of his game can improve, I think he could have a say at the Wanda Metropolitano as his bullish style is a real nuisance.
Taylor's Arsenal XI vs Atletico Madrid: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Eze, Gyokeres
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