Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid: Tips, Odds, and Match Preview

The Gunners are one win shy of their 100th Champions League victory, a milestone they could well achieve come Tuesday evening.

But coming to spoil the party is a dogged Atletico Madrid side, often cited as the stylistic blueprint for what Mikel Arteta has developed with Arsenal over the past few years.

Gunners Flying High

The London giants have all their ducks in a row at the moment. They’re top of the Premier League with a 3-point cushion over Man City and have maintained a 100% record in UEFA’s elite competition so far.

The squad depth is phenomenal, particularly in defence, while the combination of Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyökeres provides plenty of threat up front.

And that’s the thing about Arsenal: they don’t concede. Arteta’s defence has capitulated only three times in eight domestic games. They also boast the joint-best defensive record in the Champions League, yet to concede a single goal this term.

Arsenal are two-for-two in the League Phase, beating Olympiakos and Athletic Club 2–0 each, and welcome their Spanish rivals in high spirits.

Arsenal Injury & Suspension News

Club captain Martin Ødegaard has yet to return from a knee injury suffered before the international break. The trio of Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus remain sidelined. Also, we might finally see Piero Hincapié in action, as the left-back is only a slight doubt for the game.

Atletico Madrid Looking for Momentum

Los Rojiblancos are trying to build momentum of their own. Known for their rigid defensive style, Atleti have flipped the script this season by scoring in all 11 games so far, thanks largely to Antoine Griezmann and Julián Álvarez, and showing vulnerability at the back.

Simeone’s men currently sit fourth in La Liga and have had a topsy-turvy start to their UCL campaign. After a heartbreaking defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Matchday 1, they bounced back by putting five past Eintracht Frankfurt in the second round.

More concerning, however, is that Atleti have yet to win away from home this season, losing two and drawing three. That doesn’t bode well ahead of a trip to the Emirates.

Atletico Madrid Injury & Suspension News

Argentine attacker Nico González suffered a concussion in the last game and is not in the squad for the London trip. The only other injury concern for Los Rojiblancos is Johnny Cardoso.

Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid Prediction

Atletico’s 2018 trip to the Emirates ended in a 1–1 draw before they beat Wenger’s side 1–0 at home to book a spot in the Europa League final. Much has changed since then, and Arsenal have become a tough code to crack for any team in Europe.

I predict a low-scoring affair where neither side goes all-out. They'll both keep it neat, keep it tight, and likely keep it low.

CryptoGamba Tip: Under 2.5 goals – 1.87 @BC.Game