Mikel Arteta has vowed that Arsenal players will become “beasts” as they attempt to reach the Champions League final for the first time since 2006.
Arsenal drew 1-1 in the first leg of their semi-final against Atlético Madrid last week and will be confident of overcoming Diego Simeone’s side after winning five of their six games in this competition at the Emirates Stadium so far this season, conceding just three goals. Viktor Gyökeres scored twice in a 4-0 victory over Atlético during the group stage, although Arsenal will be wary of underestimating the team that eliminated Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
Fans are planning a special reception to welcome Arsenal’s team bus to the Emirates ahead of Tuesday night’s match, as well as what organizers have described as “the biggest tifo in the club’s history” to be unveiled in the East Stand just before kick-off. Arteta was also happy to talk about his chances of matching the achievements of Arsène Wenger’s team in 2006, who were beaten by Barcelona in Arsenal’s only previous final.
“Go and take advantage of it. When you are faced with an opportunity like that, it means that you are ready to deliver, and the team is going to go in the first minute to get it,” he said.
“We always talk at this moment that we need players with a great emotional state, because I think that determines the rest, and we feel very good for tomorrow. I feel the energy within and among the team, our fans. So this is the moment in which we want to live together. We have a lot of work as a club, as a team, after 20 years to be in this position again. We are very hungry to get the game we want tomorrow and go to that final.”
Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard will return after missing Saturday’s win over Fulham, while there was more good news for Arsenal with Kai Havertz also expected to be involved. When asked if he had ever thought about the possibility of one day emulating Wenger by reaching the final and winning the Premier League this season, Arteta said: “The only thing left for me is to finish preparing tomorrow, as best as possible, for the game, the team, and for us to come out like beasts, enjoy the moment and go for it.”
Simeone laughed at reports that he had requested a change of hotel because he is superstitious after his team’s defeat in the league stage. Atlético stayed at the Marriott in Regent’s Park in October when they were beaten 4-0, but this time they moved to the Courthouse Hotel in Shoreditch.
“The hotel was cheaper, that’s why we changed,” he said. “I think we are doing better than in October. We are confident in what we want with the game, but it does not depend only on us. We are convinced of what we have to do. Whatever the plan chosen, we will maintain it until the end.”
After a controversial first leg in which both coaches criticized the referees, all Simeone answered when asked about the appointment of German referee Daniel Siebert was “no”. Atlético has not yet won any of the three games it has managed, all against English clubs.
