Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal match preview

Atletico Madrid have reached the Champions League final twice in the last four years but failed in Europe’s top competition this season.

Atletico were relegated to the Europa League where they have the opportunity to reach the final for the first time since 2012.

Thursday’s match is undoubtably Arsenal’s biggest game since the 2006 Champions League final where they lost to another Spanish opposition, Barcelona.

Arsenal have reached two European finals under Arsene Wenger, losing them both and this is the Frenchman’s last chance of European glory with the North London club.

Arsenal played brilliantly at the Emirates last week as they were spurred on by the crowd from the first whistle till the last. But this time, away from home, Arsenal will have no such support.

Wenger will be desperate for his team to win at the Wanda Metropolitano but traditionally, he hasn’t done so well in big, milestone matches.

Arsenal team news

Arsene Wenger also rested the majority of his first team at the weekend.

Arsenal fielded a young side at Old Trafford and they ultimately lost 2-1 thanks to a late Marouane Fellaini header.

Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil, Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny all missed the trip to Manchester and they will all be well rested for Thursday’s match.

Arsenal fans were very impressed by the solid defensive performances from Calum Chambers and Konstantinos Mavropanos but the duo are unlikely to start in such a huge clash.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is back for the Gunners whilst Santi Cazorla nears a return to first team action.

The only player who is certainly out is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who is ineligible to play in the Europa League.