Storm warning for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta seeks Champions League semi-final advantage against Atletico Madrid, two key players passed fit

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Thunderstorms are forecast this week in Spain, but Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says his players will be prepared, whatever the weather, for their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid.

'Nobody owes us anything' - Simeone looks ahead to Atletico's UCL semi-final against Arsenal

Video credit: SNTV

The Gunners have arrived in the Spanish capital ahead of their second appearance in as many seasons in this competition under Arteta, who was unable to guide his side beyond a meeting with eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain 12 months ago.

This time, Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid stand in the way of a showdown against either PSG or Bayern Munich in Budapest on 30 May, with Arsenal also battling to end the season as Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years.

Speaking on the eve of the first leg against Atletico, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, Arteta was asked about the state of the pitch at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, in light of the expected inclement weather heading for Madrid.

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"It's good right now, and I won't know what will happen tomorrow," the Spaniard said. "We will adapt to this context.

”For the last nine months, imagine the amount of games that we have played in different scenarios, different contexts, different opponents.

”We will react to the conditions tomorrow in the best possible way to be ourselves and win the game.”

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Forecasters have issued warnings of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across the Madrid area, prompting concerns over potential travel disruption for those attending.

Supporters heading to Madrid are being advised to monitor local media closely, follow official guidance and confirm transport arrangements before departure.

The unsettled weather threatens to add an unpredictable edge to an already combustible semi-final - and it is not the first time this season that Atletico's pitch has been a focal point.

Tottenham Hotspur were left incensed following their last-16 meeting in March, alleging the pitch had been excessively watered.

Concerns over the playing conditions did not end there, with Hansi Flick also criticising the hosts ahead of Barcelona's quarter-final visit, claiming the grass had been left deliberately long in an effort to disrupt the tempo of the game.

Injury updates on Timber, Havertz, Eze and Calafiori

Meanwhile, Arteta has confirmed that Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber will miss the first leg, but there is better news concerning Eberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori, both of whom have been passed fit for Wednesday’s clash.

Havertz was forced off during the first half of Saturday’s Premier League win over Newcastle United, and has not recovered in time to feature. Eze, also withdrawn in that match, has since shaken off his knock and is available for selection.

Arteta's pre-match update carried a note of ambiguity. He initially suggested both Timber and Calafiori were ”fit and available". However, he later clarified that Timber would not be included in the squad.

Eberechi Eze has shaken off a knock to be passed fit

Image credit: Getty Images

There is, however, a timely boost elsewhere, with Bukayo Saka - who made his return from injury as a substitute over the weekend - included, alongside Noni Madueke, for the trip to face Simeone's side.

Arteta believes last weekend's 1-0 win over Newcastle was a crucial confidence boost ahead of facing the stiff task of bringing an advantage back to North London.

"It was a massive win for us against Newcastle, you could sense it straight away, the energy and the confidence," he added.

"Coming into this game, it is a massive privilege to be here again, two years in a row in the semi-final of the Champions League, representing our club.

Martin Odegaard and Arteta on the Metropolitano pitch on Tuesday

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"We are going to grab it with both hands, you are going to see a team that wants to be dominant and wants to win it.

"It will be a top match. They are a team with a manager who has so much experience in the competition.

"They have every right to be here, because what they have done is remarkable. We know the difficulty of the match, but I think we have shown in Europe, in any ground, what we are capable of.

"We have been very consistent, and tomorrow we have to play with that confidence, with that desire to come here and win the game."

Odegaard: We're in great position to make history

The night before a defining European encounter, captain Martin Odegaard urged calm amid the noise that inevitably surrounds an occasion of this magnitude.

Victory over Newcastle eased the tension that was building around Arsenal's hopes of ending their wait for silverware, which stretches back to Arteta's first season in charge back in 2020.

Odegaard is focused on creating history with Arsenal in the coming weeks

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Speaking alongside Arteta, Odegaard's message was one of mental resilience, incremental progress and belief in the journey that has brought his side to this point.

"For some people, maybe stay away from the phone. But in today's society it's impossible to not see things," the Norwegian told reporters.

"It's about being strong mentally, and being focused on the right things, to live day by day and game by game.

"It doesn't matter what people say. We can't control that. We can work every single day as hard as we can. Just keep doing that. It's massive for all of us. We're in a great position to make history and that's what we want to do.

"I've been at this club for a while now, and I've seen the progression. It's been amazing to be a part of that. We want to take that last step and do something really big, and that's what we're all working towards every single day."

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