Arsenal will look to maintain their perfect start in the Champions League on Tuesday when they host Diego Simeone’s resilient Atletico Madrid.
So far, the Gunners have won both their opening European fixtures without conceding a goal. However, they face an Atletico side buoyed by a thumping victory on matchday two. Consequently, this sets the stage for a crucial encounter at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Tuesday, 21 October 2025
- Kick-off: 8:00 pm BST
- Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
- Referee: Davide Massa
- VAR: Daniele Chiffi
- Last Meeting: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Arsenal, 26 JUL 2018, International Champions Cup
Team News
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta receives a boost with defender Piero Hincapie returning. Hincapie is now available after recovering from a groin injury. On the other hand, the manager remains without several key players. Captain Martin Ødegaard, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus are all sidelined due to knee injuries. Furthermore, both Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi must be cautious, as they are one booking away from a suspension.
Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone faces doubts over midfielder Nico Gonzalez, who is recovering from a head injury. Key midfielder Johnny Cardoso is definitely ruled out with an ankle problem. However, there is positive news in defence, as Clément Lenglet is available again after serving a domestic suspension.
Form
Arsenal: WWWWW
The Gunners are currently in scintillating form. They sit top of the Premier League and have won their last five matches across all competitions. Moreover, their start to the Champions League campaign has been flawless, featuring two wins and two clean sheets. Arsenal also boast the best defensive statistics in the competition so far based on expected goals against (xGA).
Atletico Madrid: WDDWW
Atletico arrive in London in good form. They responded impressively to their opening Champions League defeat against Liverpool by hammering Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 on matchday two. Additionally, they secured a 1-0 league win over Osasuna at the weekend. Despite this recent form, their away record against English teams in this competition remains poor. In fact, they have failed to win in five previous attempts.
Predicted Lineups
Arsenal predicted XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Merino, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
Atletico Madrid predicted XI: Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Ruggeri; Simeone, Barrios, Almada, Gallagher; Griezmann, Alvarez
How to watch Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid?
Fans in the UK can watch the match live on TNT Sports. Coverage begins at 7:30 pm BST. Additionally, subscribers can stream the fixture via the Discovery+ app and website.
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