Arsenal vs. Atletico Madrid: Team News, Live Stream, TV Info for Europa League
Gill Clark
April 25, 2018
FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: GRADIENT ADDED - COMPOSITE OF TWO IMAGES - Image numbers (L) 852372342 and 942376156) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Manager Diego Simeone of Club Atletico de Madrid (L) and Arsene Wenger of Arsenal . Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid meet in one of the UEFA Europa League Semi Finals over two legs. ***LEFT IMAGE*** MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 23: Manager Diego Simeone of Club Atletico de Madrid looks on during the La Liga match between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla at Wanda Metropolitano on September 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: Arsene Wenger of Arsenal looks on during the UEFA Europa League quarter final leg one match between Arsenal FC and CSKA Moskva at Emirates Stadium on April 5, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Getty Images/Getty Images
Arsenal welcome Atletico Madrid to the Emirates Stadium on Thursday for the first leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final.
The two clubs look to be the strongest teams left in the competition, and whoever makes it through will fancy their chances of lifting the trophy at the Stade de Lyon on May 16.
Here's a look at how you can watch the game, followed by team news and a match preview.
Date: Thursday, April 26
Time: 8:05 p.m. BST/3:05 p.m. ET
TV: BT Sport 2 (UK), Fox Sports 1 (USA)
Live Stream: BT Sport Player, WatchESPN, Fox Sports Go
Team News
Arsenal have injury concerns ahead of the first leg, with midfielder Mohamed Elneny out with ankle ligament damage, per the club's official website.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is also missing with a knee problem, while midfielders Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil are doubts, per Mattias Karen at ESPN FC. The Gunners will also have to make do without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is ineligible.
Atletico Madrid will be without some key players, although Diego Costa may not be one of them. Manager Diego Simeone had said he had "no chance" of playing in the first leg due to a hamstring injury, per Richard Cooke at Sky Sports, but AS noted the former Chelsea man is among the travelling party.
Defender Juanfran will miss both games against Arsenal after he was forced off in the draw with Real Betis on Sunday, per Ainhoa Sanchez at Marca. Sime Vrsaljko replaced the defender during the game and should keep his place on Thursday.
Filipe Luis remains sidelined after suffering a broken leg in the Europa League clash against Lokomotiv Moscow in March.
Can Arsenal Win it for Wenger?
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: Coach Arsene Wenger of Arsenal looks on during the UEFA UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final first leg match between Arsenal FC and CSKA Moskva at Emirates Stadium on April 5, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by TF-Images/TF
TF-Images/Getty Images
Thursday's game represents manager Arsene Wenger's final European home game in charge of Arsenal after he announced on Friday he would step down at the end of the season.
The Frenchman can still sign off in style by winning the Europa League and with it UEFA Champions League football for next season, but the team face their toughest test yet on Thursday.
The Gunners are the competition's top scorers but are also still to keep a clean sheet in the knockout stages. Given Atletico's formidable home record, denying the visitors an away goal could prove crucial.
Wenger's impending departure after 22 years may serve as extra motivation for the Arsenal players.
Midfielder Granit Xhaka has urged his team-mates to win it for the manager, per journalist Pete O'Rourke:
Pete O'Rourke @SportsPeteO
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has challenged his team-mates to win the Europa League as a "special" gift for departing boss Arsene Wenger. #AFC
The Gunners will need to be at their best if they are to deny Atletico. Simeone's side are second in La Liga and have the best defence in the Spanish top flight.
The form of Alexandre Lacazette will give Arsenal hope, as the Frenchman has rediscovered his goalscoring touch since returning from knee surgery. He also seems to prefer playing at home, as shown by Match of the Day:
Match of the Day @BBCMOTD
Alexandre Lacazette loves the Emirates Stadium! 80% of all his Arsenal goals have come there. 12 out of 15 ⚽ #MOTD2 https://t.co/MTYvwyYYYi
Defensively, there will also need to be improvements as Arsenal have leaked goals in Europe. Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi have looked shaky, and even if Costa does not play for Atleti, they still have plenty of firepower in Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa and Vitolo.
Simeone Hints at Tactical Switch
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 22: Diego Pablo Simeone, Manager of Atletico de Madrid looks on prior to the La Liga match between Atletico Madrid and Real Betis at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on April 22, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Gett
Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
Atletico head to London on a run of just one win in their last five games, and Simeone has said he could change from his usual 4-4-2 formation for the game.
"I may use three central defenders in London, why not?" he said, per James Benge at the Evening Standard.
The Atleti boss has a small squad, and injury problems may mean he has few options, as noted by Dermot Corrigan at ESPN FC:
Gill Clark
April 25, 2018
FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: GRADIENT ADDED - COMPOSITE OF TWO IMAGES - Image numbers (L) 852372342 and 942376156) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Manager Diego Simeone of Club Atletico de Madrid (L) and Arsene Wenger of Arsenal . Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid meet in one of the UEFA Europa League Semi Finals over two legs. ***LEFT IMAGE*** MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 23: Manager Diego Simeone of Club Atletico de Madrid looks on during the La Liga match between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla at Wanda Metropolitano on September 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: Arsene Wenger of Arsenal looks on during the UEFA Europa League quarter final leg one match between Arsenal FC and CSKA Moskva at Emirates Stadium on April 5, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Getty Images/Getty Images
Arsenal welcome Atletico Madrid to the Emirates Stadium on Thursday for the first leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final.
The two clubs look to be the strongest teams left in the competition, and whoever makes it through will fancy their chances of lifting the trophy at the Stade de Lyon on May 16.
Here's a look at how you can watch the game, followed by team news and a match preview.
Date: Thursday, April 26
Time: 8:05 p.m. BST/3:05 p.m. ET
TV: BT Sport 2 (UK), Fox Sports 1 (USA)
Live Stream: BT Sport Player, WatchESPN, Fox Sports Go
Team News
Arsenal have injury concerns ahead of the first leg, with midfielder Mohamed Elneny out with ankle ligament damage, per the club's official website.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is also missing with a knee problem, while midfielders Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil are doubts, per Mattias Karen at ESPN FC. The Gunners will also have to make do without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is ineligible.
Atletico Madrid will be without some key players, although Diego Costa may not be one of them. Manager Diego Simeone had said he had "no chance" of playing in the first leg due to a hamstring injury, per Richard Cooke at Sky Sports, but AS noted the former Chelsea man is among the travelling party.
Defender Juanfran will miss both games against Arsenal after he was forced off in the draw with Real Betis on Sunday, per Ainhoa Sanchez at Marca. Sime Vrsaljko replaced the defender during the game and should keep his place on Thursday.
Filipe Luis remains sidelined after suffering a broken leg in the Europa League clash against Lokomotiv Moscow in March.
Can Arsenal Win it for Wenger?
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: Coach Arsene Wenger of Arsenal looks on during the UEFA UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final first leg match between Arsenal FC and CSKA Moskva at Emirates Stadium on April 5, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by TF-Images/TF
TF-Images/Getty Images
Thursday's game represents manager Arsene Wenger's final European home game in charge of Arsenal after he announced on Friday he would step down at the end of the season.
The Frenchman can still sign off in style by winning the Europa League and with it UEFA Champions League football for next season, but the team face their toughest test yet on Thursday.
The Gunners are the competition's top scorers but are also still to keep a clean sheet in the knockout stages. Given Atletico's formidable home record, denying the visitors an away goal could prove crucial.
Wenger's impending departure after 22 years may serve as extra motivation for the Arsenal players.
Midfielder Granit Xhaka has urged his team-mates to win it for the manager, per journalist Pete O'Rourke:
Pete O'Rourke @SportsPeteO
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has challenged his team-mates to win the Europa League as a "special" gift for departing boss Arsene Wenger. #AFC
The Gunners will need to be at their best if they are to deny Atletico. Simeone's side are second in La Liga and have the best defence in the Spanish top flight.
The form of Alexandre Lacazette will give Arsenal hope, as the Frenchman has rediscovered his goalscoring touch since returning from knee surgery. He also seems to prefer playing at home, as shown by Match of the Day:
Match of the Day @BBCMOTD
Alexandre Lacazette loves the Emirates Stadium! 80% of all his Arsenal goals have come there. 12 out of 15 ⚽ #MOTD2 https://t.co/MTYvwyYYYi
Defensively, there will also need to be improvements as Arsenal have leaked goals in Europe. Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi have looked shaky, and even if Costa does not play for Atleti, they still have plenty of firepower in Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa and Vitolo.
Simeone Hints at Tactical Switch
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 22: Diego Pablo Simeone, Manager of Atletico de Madrid looks on prior to the La Liga match between Atletico Madrid and Real Betis at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on April 22, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Gett
Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
Atletico head to London on a run of just one win in their last five games, and Simeone has said he could change from his usual 4-4-2 formation for the game.
"I may use three central defenders in London, why not?" he said, per James Benge at the Evening Standard.
The Atleti boss has a small squad, and injury problems may mean he has few options, as noted by Dermot Corrigan at ESPN FC:
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