Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are locked at 1-1 heading into their UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg on Tuesday, May 5.

The Emirates Stadium will be the stage as both sides vie for a coveted spot in the final in Budapest, with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich contesting the other semi-final.

Arsenal’s squad boosts and setbacks

Mikel Arteta’s side will have key figures like Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz available for the crucial encounter. However, the Gunners remain without Jurrien Timber, who has been sidelined since mid-March with an ankle problem.

A more recent absentee is Mikel Merino, who underwent surgery for a fractured foot.

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Despite the setback, Arteta offered an optimistic update on Merino’s recovery, suggesting a quicker return than initially expected. “He’s another one that is going to push every boundary,” Arteta stated, as reported by Stephen Killen for Football.London. “He’s out of his boot now. He’s doing quite a lot of exercises already. He’s reacted really well to the surgery. He’s got no pain… I’m sure there is a chance to make that period shorter.”

Atletico’s attacking options bolstered

Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid squad sees the return of Marcos Llorente and David Hancko, both of whom missed their recent win over Valencia.

Crucially, Julian Alvarez and Giuliano Simeone, who were both forced off in the first leg, are included in the travelling party, providing Simeone with more attacking depth.

Simeone highlighted Alvarez’s importance ahead of the match, noting his familiarity with English football. “Julian Alvarez is important in this game because he knows the English league very well,” Simeone commented. “He played really well last week and I hope he can bring what he needs in the game tomorrow.”

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Confirmed absentees for the Spanish side include Pablo Barrios and Nico Gonzalez.

High stakes for the Gunners

For Arsenal, this match represents a significant opportunity to reach the Champions League final for the first time since 2006, when they ultimately fell to Barcelona.

The Gunners are also deeply entrenched in the Premier League title race, adding another layer of intensity to their demanding schedule as they push for silverware on multiple fronts.

With the tie finely poised and key players returning for both sides, Tuesday’s encounter promises to be a thrilling battle for European supremacy and a place in club football’s most prestigious final.

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Sources: www.football.london

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