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  1. Atletico Madrid 1-1 Arsenal - send us your thoughtspublished at 21:58 BST 29 April

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    Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

    Have your say on Arsenal's performance

    Come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies

  2. Follow Wednesday's Champions League game livepublished at 19:18 BST 29 April

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    Atletico Madrid team news

    Julian Alvarez returns to the starting XI for Diego Simeone's side. The forward was on the bench on the weekend for Atletico having recovered from a thigh problem which kept him out of the previous three games.

    Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak, Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri, Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Lookman, Griezmann, Alvarez

    Subs: Musso, Esquivel, Mendoza, Sorloth, Alex Baena, Almada, Lenglet, Molina, Vargas, Le Normand, Bonar, Julio Diaz

    Mikel Arteta has made two changes to his Arsenal side that played at the weekend. Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli come in for Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz.

    Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres

    Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Mosquera, Saka, Jesus, Eze, Norgaard, Trossard, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Salmon

    Arsenal team news.

    This evening you can follow the Champions League semi-final and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

    Follow all of the action and reaction here

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    Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

    There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.

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  3. Atletico Madrid v Arsenal: Key stats and player infopublished at 13:33 BST 29 April

    Tom McCoy
    BBC Sport journalist

    Julian Alvarez celebratingImage source, Getty Images

    Arsenal's 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid back in October would suggest this is a favourable semi-final tie for the Gunners - but you would expect them to face a sterner test this time around.

    While Diego Simeone's side have kept just one clean sheet in their past nine matches, conceding exactly two goals in the other eight games, they have demonstrated a real cutting edge going forward. They have scored 34 goals in the Champions League – smashing their previous season record of 26 - and their six knockout fixtures in the competition have produced a total of 28 goals (17 scored, 11 conceded).

    In contrast, Arsenal's corresponding four matches have produced just five goals. The Gunners' attack has misfired in the past month, so a low-scoring, attritional affair might actually suit them.

    Did you know?

    • Atletico have won only two of their past 12 matches against Premier League teams (D2, L8) but have never lost at home to an English team in the knockout stage of the Champions League (W3, D3).

    • The Spanish club have progressed from six of their past seven European semi-finals, most recently against Arsenal in the 2017-18 Europa League, and 15 of their previous 21 two-legged European ties.

    Atletico Madrid player to watch - Julian Alvarez

    Former Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez returned to Atletico's matchday squad last weekend, as he came back from a muscle issue that he picked up on 18 April when his side lost to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final.

    Alvarez has a club record nine Champions League goals this season and has repeatedly been linked with a summer move to Barcelona. The 26-year-old has applied 853 high-intensity pressures, the most of any player in the Champions League this campaign, and also leads the way in terms of most high-intensity pressures per 90 minutes (70).

    Who else?

    France forward Antoine Griezmann has only managed to find the net twice in the Champions League this season, but since joining the club in 2021, has been directly involved in 24.2% of Atletico's goals in the competition. It is the highest percentage by any player for a team with at least 100 goals in the tournament's history, just ahead of Lionel Messi for Barcelona (24.1%).

    At the other end of the pitch, long-serving goalkeeper Jan Oblak has recently returned to action after a month out on the sidelines. The 33-year-old has started each of the previous two matches.

  4. League obsessions can help Gunners in Europepublished at 10:46 BST 29 April

    Scarlet Katz Roberts
    Fan writer

    Arsenal fan's voice banner
    William Saliba screams in celebrationImage source, Getty Images

    When I compare the heady mania that followed Gabriel Martinelli's clincher at the Bernabeu last season to the slightly stiff 'see you at the Etihad' the fans gave the team after an uninspiring 0-0 draw against Sporting, it's hard to believe both nights achieved the same thing.

    By the time Real Madrid rolled up to the Emirates, the title was gone.

    When PSG followed in late April sunshine for our first Champions League semi final since 2009, the pre-game atmosphere was carnival-like — towers of pre-game beer snakes wobbling through the concourse. The fun came to an end when Ousmane Dembele shanked PSG in front within five minutes, but the dream was there.

    After an uneventful bout between PSG and Bayern on Tuesday night on the glamorous side of the draw, Arsenal head to Madrid, (where I hear it is due to rain) three points clear at the top of the Premier League and still on for an unprecedented double. But you wouldn't know it.

    This weather-beaten, marathon title challenge has blocked out the light. It's the only thing we can see. I think that could help Arsenal. The Champions League has seen some of our more free-flowing performances this season with a convincing 4-0 victory against tonight's opposition among the highlights.

    Both the fans and players seem more relaxed in a competition that doesn't see bottles whipped out in the stands, or Gary Neville on commentary. The equation feels positive: win and you keep your options open, lose and it was all about the league along.

    This might not be a vintage Simeone Altetico side, but it's going to be a battle in the Metropolitano, one that Arsenal can enjoy paradoxically under less scrutiny than their usual Premier League low block, man-marking psychodramas.

    So my message to my team might seem overly simple when I say enjoy it. We only had four minutes of fun before PSG made us second favourites last season. A potential Champions League final awaits, isn't that cool.

    Find more from Scarlet Katz Roberts at the Goal Difference podcast, external

  5. Supporters 'disappointed' with fixture changepublished at 07:55 BST 29 April

    Alex Howell
    Arsenal reporter

    Arsenal corner flagImage source, Getty Images

    The Arsenal Supporter's Trust (AST) has said it is "disappointed" that the Gunners' final home game of the season against Burnley has been moved.

    Arsenal were originally scheduled to take on the Clarets on Sunday 17 May but this has now been moved back a day to Monday 18 May with the game selected for TV coverage.

    The home game is the last chance that supporters will have to see their side play in the Premier League at home and if results fall in Arsenal's favour, it could prove the fixture where they win the league.

    The AST went on to say in their statement that the time of the game "creates clear difficulties for both sets of supporters", with the late finish making it tough for fans to plan their journeys home using public transport.

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has said he is "not surprised" that supporters are not happy with the change and that the team also will have to adapt to the situation.

    He explained: "It's the last home game of the season - you want to play at the weekend, and I think the time and the date were set, and now it's been changed. So it's not ideal, especially for our supporters.

    "But the TV has the right to do so. So they've done it.

    "But unfortunately, we're going to have to adapt to that as well. And play our game. And try to have everybody in that stadium in the same manner, with the same energy. Because obviously, we know what is at stake."

  6. Odegaard ready to enjoy challenges as Arsenal try to winpublished at 20:08 BST 28 April

    Alex Howell
    Arsenal reporter

    Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard in Atletico Madrid's empty stadiumImage source, Getty Images

    Martin Odegaard has said that he and the rest of the Arsenal players are trying to embrace the challenge of winning the Champions League for the first time in the Gunners history.

    The Arsenal captain has had a broken season because of injuries but has spoken about how he and his team-mates can use that pressure for good.

    Odegaard was in a good mood in his news conference on Tuesday and set a positive tone when speaking to the media before Arsenal's Champions League semi-final first leg with Atletico Madrid.

    "How can you not enjoy it?" Odegaard said. "We are playing in probably the toughest and most competitive league in the world and at the top fighting for the title and in the semi of the Champions League.

    "For me, it's hard for me to understand how you can not enjoy that. That's what we have been dreaming about our whole life, me since I was a kid.

    "The energy in the group is amazing."

    Odegaard also spoke about how the noise the of Arsenal not lifting silverware is "always going to be there until we win it and that is something you have to live with" which matched his positive outlook at the news conference.

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also looked to highlight the club's achievement in reaching back-to-back Champions League semi-finals.

    However, there was a strange moment from the Gunners boss as he seemed to confirm that Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber was back in the squad after injury before clarifying that he was not available.

    Arteta is known for trying to make the most of marginal gains and this seemed to be his latest way of putting some doubt on to his team selection.

  7. Arteta on Eze's fitness, 'embracing the opportunity' and Alvarez linkspublished at 20:02 BST 28 April

    Huzaifah Khan
    BBC Sport journalist

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg at Atletico Madrid (kick-off 20:00 BST).

    Here are the key lines from his news conference:

    • On team news, Arteta confirmed that Eberechi Eze is available after going off injured against Newcastle at the weekend. Riccardo Calafiori and Bukayo Saka are also fit, but Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber are out.

    • On the opportunity that lies ahead for his side, Arteta said this is where the club wants to be and they have "earned it through incredible work, passion and quality" and "now is the moment to make a statement and show how good we are".

    • On what he expects from Atletico: "A really tough match. They have so much experience in the competition that they have every right to be here. We know the difficulty of the match but I think we have shown in Europe, in any ground, what we are capable of and very consistent and tomorrow we have to play with that confidence, that desire, to come here to win the game."

    • Arteta was asked about being in the same situation as last season, when the Gunners are facing a side in the semi-final that they had previously beaten in the league phase: "We learn things from that game but tomorrow is going to be a completely different one, especially playing here. We know what they've done and what they are capable of, and because we have some experience now in these kinds of games, we know exactly what we have to do."

    • On playing at a ground where there has been talk of it being a tricky surface to play on: "We are up to any context and, for the past nine months, imagine the amount of games that we have played with different scenarios, different contexts, different opponents, so we'll adapt to the conditions tomorrow in the best possible way to be ourselves and win the game."

    • He also touched on whether he feels Arsenal now feel they belong on these stages: "I don't take it for granted because a very short time ago this club had seven years without Champions League. In that very short period of time what we have achieved is remarkable and we know the difficulty of it and how much we work for this. Enjoy it, take the opportunity and embrace it - because it is very tough to be here."

    • On how important taking a win back to the Emirates would be: "That's what we want to do. We have prepared the game to win it. There is no question about that."

    • On Atletico boss Diego Simeone saying Arsenal are interested in his striker Julian Alvarez: "You know that I don't talk about any player that is not our player."

    Listen to full match commentary of Atletico Madrid v Arsenal on BBC Radio 5 Live on Wednesday from 20:00 BST

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  8. 'We're in the best part of the season' - Odegaardpublished at 19:56 BST 28 April

    Arsenal's Martin Odegaard pictured during the pre-match news conference before the Atletico Madrid game
Image source, Getty Images

    Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has said "everyone is excited" as the Gunners prepare to face Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.

    Mikel Arteta's side were knocked out in the last four last season by eventual winners Paris St-Germain.

    "We're in the best part of the season," Odegaard said.

    "It's another great opportunity to do something special. We take lessons from the past and we're looking forward to it.

    "How can you not enjoy it? We're fighting for the title in the Premier League and we're in the semi-final of the Champions League. It's what we've always dreamed about."

    Asked about the recent near misses in competitions as Arsenal search for a first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, Odegaard said: "It's always gong to be there until we win it. It's just something you have to live with, we need to take lessons and experiences to help us. It's part of football and the journey.

    "We want to win every game and trophy. Our focus is about winning tomorrow and we look to the next game after that. For us, it doesn't really matter - it's all about tomorrow."

  9. The 'gut-wrenching' significance of Havertz's injury published at 09:36 BST 28 April

    Laura Kirk-Francis
    Fan writer

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     Kai Havertz of Arsenal leaves the field injured Image source, Getty Images

    It was around the 33rd minute during Arsenal's 1-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday that I first started noticing Kai Havertz exhibiting signs that he was in pain.

    Subsequently during a short break in play, he was vehemently signalling to the bench for attention, pointing to his groin, and making the dreaded 'I need to come off' signal.

    I sit above the tunnel at the Emirates, and so the sight of the German trudging straight into the changing room felt significant, and not in a good way.

    It has become clear to me that the optimism experienced by some of the fan base since the loss at Manchester City has been fuelled by finally having our preferred starting XI on the pitch. With the combination of Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard, and Kai Havertz, Arsenal showed us what we have been missing for months, and how different our football can feel.

    But what the football gods giveth, the football gods taketh away. After 34 minutes on Saturday, that was the end of that.

    Part of the reason it felt so gut-wrenching was that up until then Arsenal had been excellent. Either side of Eze's sublime finish, we looked fired-up and ready to sweep Newcastle aside.

    It's hard to overestimate how different Arsenal looked for the remainder of the game. Much of the criticism has been directed towards Viktor Gyokeres, and specifically his failure to square the ball to Bukayo Saka as Arsenal pushed for a second.

    When the dust settles on this season, questions will need to be answered about how there can be such a drop-off in standards when every member of the preferred starting XI isn't available.

    Title races are won by pushing the ceiling higher, but only if the floor rises with it. And it could be the latter that is our undoing.

    Find more from Laura Kirk-Francis at the Latte Firm podcast, external

  10. 'Arsenal will win the league, but all of the pressure is on them'published at 18:04 BST 27 April

    Pep Guardiola and Mikel ArtetaImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester City will "slip up once or twice" in the Premier League title race to crown Arsenal champions, says former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

    Arsenal moved three points clear of Pep Guardiola's side at the weekend with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United, while City dropped to second with a game in hand.

    "I thought the Newcastle game was so important," Rooney said in the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show. "If Arsenal go and win that then they really can go and win every game. That was such a big win.

    "I feel City have a couple of tricky games in there coming up and I can see them slipping up once or twice."

    But despite predicting Arsenal as title-winners, when co-host Kae Kurd asked Rooney which dressing room he would rather be in, Rooney said: "City's - 100%.

    "It depends what you're going for. In terms of the Premier League race, you'd rather be in City's one because, [although] I think Arsenal will win it, it's a challenge for City to go and win it again.

    "But for Arsenal, all the pressure is on them to go and win the league."

    Let us know which team you would rather be right now

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  11. 'Eze can turn up and show that little bit of magic or stardust'published at 12:09 BST 27 April

    Eberechi Eze of Arsenal celebratesImage source, Getty Images

    Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul believes Arsenal have been "the masters of marginal gains" this season, with former Premier League striker Jermaine Beckford praising "magician" Eberechi Eze's performance at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

    The attacking midfielder's ninth-minute opener against Newcastle was enough to see Mikel Arteta's side regain their place at the top of the Premier League table.

    "Clearly a reaction was very much needed after the loss to Manchester City," Krul said on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast. "They turned up against Newcastle with another set-piece goal, once again showing they are the masters of marginal gains this season. Also, what a strike it was from Eberechi Eze."

    Beckford added: "He is on of those players who can turn up and show that little bit of magic or stardust. That is exactly what Arsenal have been needing recently.

    "Newcastle are no slouches. They have had a little bit of a rough run but they put on a pretty good performance, despite being a little wasteful.

    "However, when you've got someone of the magician Eberechi Eze's calibre - wow. What a signing he was from Crystal Palace. He has to be on that plane to the World Cup."

  12. Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:59 BST 27 April

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    We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Newcastle United.

    Here are some of your comments:

    Arsenal fans

    Jeffrey: Arsenal need to understand where the goals are coming from. The title run-in dictates that several goals in the remaining four matches is required. Moving the ball at pace between the players had the best results. Now let's add a few shots.

    Olivier: The Gunners continue to play very static and predictable football. And as they play with no ambition whatsoever, they get nervous and confused about their tactics. When will Arteta realise you win the title by positive, ambitious football?

    Sam: Much-improved performance in a vital win. Could have scored more and definitely wasted a lot of chances, but we got the three points over the line, which is all that is needed at this stage. Eze showed his magic moments again - hopefully his injury isn't too bad. Four more finals and a big trip to Madrid in the week to come.

    Edward: Three more points is all that matters at this stage of the league. Let's do it again next week against Fulham. After losing two matches back-to-back in the Premier League, this victory will do a lot of good for our momentum.

    Newcastle fans

    Paul: Unlucky not to get an equaliser and take a point. Osula, Guimaraes, Tonali, Burn and Wissa all had chances to score. We were caught out by a well-executed set-piece that we should have seen coming, but let's take the positives because this was a much improved performance on recent weeks.

    Richard: This game didn't tell us a lot really. I must admit, I thought we might get thumped but we could have snatched a point at the end. There was more of the old team there but still not enough. That said, I'll give Wissa, Elanga and Woltemade next season to show what they can do. Same goes for Eddie. I think the whole club needs a reset.

    Derek: A decent, fighting performance. Perhaps the negatives will be quiet for a while and let Eddie get on with the very good job - in difficult circumstances - that he is doing.

    Samuel: A confusing season all round for Newcastle. It's hard to pinpoint the exact problem as the team has shown that they're more than capable of getting good results. I'm a big Eddie Howe fan and I haven't forgotten what he's done for the club. It will be interesting to see what the club does off the back of this latest defeat. It certainly doesn't seem worth replacing managers at this late juncture.

  13. Gossip: Gunners track Real's Endrickpublished at 07:27 BST 27 April

    Gossip graphic

    Arsenal are monitoring Brazil forward Endrick, who is on loan at Lyon from Real Madrid, and could bid for the 19-year-old if he becomes available. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external

    Meanwhile, Arsenal and Chelsea were among a host of Premier League clubs who watched 20-year-old Belgium forward Mika Godts score an incredible goal for Ajax on Saturday. (Teamtalk), external

    Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

    Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

  14. Where does win leave Arsenal in title race?published at 12:03 BST 26 April

    Alex Howell
    Football reporter

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    Arsenal will move six points clear of Manchester City if they beat Fulham in their home game next week, though City will have two games in hand.

    That is because City were playing Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday and are not back in league action until 4 May, when they play Everton.

    Having that buffer of points by the time of City play would be a huge boost for Arteta's side.

    According to Opta, Arsenal have a 72.44% chance of lifting the Premier League trophy at the end of the season, with City on 27.56%.

    "Arsenal have given absolutely everything on that pitch," former Crystal Palace and Brighton striker Glenn Murray said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "You can't question their fight."

    Arsenal are without a major trophy since the FA Cup triumph of 2020, which came in Mikel Arteta's first season in charge.

    And captain Martin Odegaard said the effort the players put in is because every member of the team is doing what they can to get over the line.

    "It was tough, very intense, very physical," he told Sky Sports. "We did everything we could and we got the win. The most important thing was to bounce back with a win and get over the line with the three points."

    For Odegaard, who played the full 90 minutes, and the rest of the squad, attention quickly switches to the Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

    "This schedule is crazy," Odegaard added. "We just have to keep going. It is the end of the season, just leave everything out that we have inside, fight every single game and we just have to keep going.

    "That's where we want to be but it is going to go all the way to the end. We are ready for it and we will fight every single day."

    Read more here

  15. Analysis: Gunners put pressure back on title rivalspublished at 21:54 BST 25 April

    Eberechi Eze of Arsenal celebrates with teammates.Image source, Getty Images

    This was a tricky assignment for Arsenal after suffering back-to-back defeats in the league for the first time this season and losing to Manchester City last week.

    However, the Gunners navigated through this difficult match to secure a vital three points in the title race.

    The short corner with which they took the lead - their 17th goal from a corner this season - was initially not welcomed by supporters with Martin Odegaard gesturing for calm from his own fans as the Gunners celebrated what proved to be their winner.

    When Kai Havertz was withdrawn through injury in the first half and Viktor Gyokeres was subbed on in his place, the Gunners lost their ability to hold on to the ball upfront.

    That will be a worry for Arteta at this time of the season and with the Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid coming up next week.

    Eberechi Eze had to be withdrawn too but all that will matter to Arsenal fans is that they managed to secure what could be a crucial three points in this title race with Manchester City.

    The Arsenal players fell to the floor with the effort they put in and now they have given themselves the chance to double their lead at the top of the table next week when they take on Fulham before City are next in league action.

  16. Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle: What Arteta and Rice saidpublished at 20:20 BST 25 April

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    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Much better. We know what is at stake. The margins are really small. We started the game really well, scored a beautiful goal. I loved the personality of the players. We were so disciplined without the ball, we only conceded one chance with [Yoane] Wissa.

    "We can miss chances but it is how the team reacts immediately and the effort that we put. We have to have something else to win games."

    On what the last week has been like: "We had a huge reset and I sensed a change in energy in the dressing room. We enjoyed what we had to do and now we play the Champions League against Atletico Madrid in the semi-final which is incredible."

    On Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze who came off injured: "Both of them had to come off, I think it was small niggles. We don't know the extent of that. Probably tomorrow we will know more."

    Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I think we said after last week [defeat by Manchester City] that we have to win five games if you want to win the Premier League. That's one down and now four to go. It was about winning no matter how we win.

    "It is exciting times. There's a lot to play for.

    "Always against Newcastle, it will be a really tough game, they have unbelievable players who can hurt you at any time.

    "We could have done better in front of goal in the second half, it opened up for us and it was just lacking that final pass. But in the end, three points, a special goal from Ebs [Eberechi Eze] and that makes the weekend better so it is all good."

    On how Arsenal are dealing with pressure and fan nerves: "Block it out, we've got to this point for a reason, you know. There's always going to be noise, from home fans, away fans, people outside. It's about blocking it out and believing in what we can do and that is just winning football matches. We will continue to do that."

    Did you know?

    • Arsenal now hold the Premier League record for most goals from corners in a single season (17).

    • Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Eberechi Eze has scored more goals from outside the box than any other player in the Premier League (10).

    • Arsenal achieved a Premier League double over Newcastle for just the second time under Mikel Arteta, with the previous one coming in the Spaniard's first full season in charge (2020-21).

    • Arsenal's xG against Newcastle was just 0.64 – their second-lowest in a Premier League game at the Emirates this season, only ahead of their 0.57 versus Liverpool in January.