Arsenal go into the second leg with Atletico Madrid level at 1-1 and in a better place than they were a week ago. Mikel Arteta has Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz back in the squad, Bukayo Saka is arriving in form, and Saturday's 3-0 win over Fulham gave the night a useful lift without settling anything.

Why Arsenal look better equipped now

The most important change for Arsenal is simple: they have more genuine options. Ødegaard and Havertz were initially doubts, but both are now available. Arteta told standard.co.uk: "Yeah, they're available and in the squad both of them. Great because we need options, we need the capacity to play different games tomorrow, whether it's from the start or after. So it's really, really good news for us to have them both back."

That matters in a tie like this because the first leg left very little margin. Arsenal did not lose in Madrid, but they also did not build any cushion. A level score puts more weight on in-game changes, and Arteta's point about being able to play "different games" feels especially relevant against an Atletico side that rarely gives you the same problem for 90 minutes.

The timing of Arsenal's latest league result also helps. They beat Fulham 3-0 on Saturday, with Viktor Gyökeres scoring two goals and adding an assist. Gyökeres has 5 Champions League goals this season, so this is not just domestic form bleeding into the preview. Arsenal have another attacker arriving with evidence behind him.

Then there is Saka. His 9.3 rating against Fulham is the standout individual marker from the weekend, and Arteta did not try to downplay his condition. Speaking to football365.com, he said: "Great, that's what we need when we arrive in this stage of the competition – the players not only to be available, but to be in top condition to perform and make the difference, and Bukayo will certainly give us that."

There is a fair argument that availability is the real headline here, not just quality. Sports Mole listed Mikel Merino and Jurriën Timber as out and had Ødegaard and Havertz as doubtful, so the team news has not been perfectly consistent across previews. Still, Arteta's own update is the strongest source in the brief, and it points to Arsenal being closer to full attacking flexibility than expected.

The home record gives Arsenal a real platform

Arsenal's Champions League home record this season is hard to ignore: 8 wins from 8. That does not guarantee anything in a one-off knockout second leg, but it is the clearest hard evidence for why they should feel this match is there for them.

Their recent form line, WWDLW, also fits the wider picture. It is not flawless, yet the most recent note is the one Arsenal wanted before a semi-final decider: a comfortable win, goals in the side, and key attackers looking sharp.

Arteta's approach sounds less concerned with matching names and more with controlling the kind of game Arsenal get. He told football365.com: "I can't control that. Tomorrow they will do something, they will start with some players, they will finish with others. We will adapt as always and we will play the game that we think is best for us."

That is probably the right framing. A lot of knockout previews get dragged into lineup chess. Arsenal's bigger advantage may be that they now have enough fit attacking pieces to change the picture if the first plan stalls.

Why Atletico still have the player who can flip the tie

Even with the focus on Arsenal's boost, Atletico's threat is obvious enough. Julián Alvarez scored their equaliser from the penalty spot in the first leg, and Diego Simeone is clearly leaning on him again. He told football365.com: "He knows the English league very well, and he played very well in the first leg. Hopefully, he can respond in the way the match demands."

Alvarez's 7.59 Champions League rating is stronger than his 6.97 La Liga rating, which backs up the idea that his European level has been a little sharper. That makes him the clearest warning for Arsenal, especially in a tie that still feels one big moment away from swinging.

There is, though, one point that cannot be presented as settled. Coverage on Alvarez's availability conflicts. Sports Mole listed him as doubtful, while other reporting in the brief leans toward him being involved and Simeone's comments certainly treat him as a major option. The safest reading is that Atletico's hopes still revolve around him, but his status should not be overstated.

That leaves Arsenal with a decent edge, not a free pass. They have the stronger case on momentum, the clearer boost in squad news, and the best supporting number in the tie with those 8 home wins in Europe. Atletico still have Alvarez and a manager who believes the match can turn on him. With the score 1-1, Arsenal's extra options look like the biggest difference heading into the second leg.

FAQ

Will Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz be available for Arsenal against Atletico Madrid?

Yes, Mikel Arteta confirmed that Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz are available and in the squad for Arsenal. They had been doubts earlier, but Arteta said their return gives Arsenal more options, whether from the start or later in the game.

Why are Arsenal in a stronger position for the second leg against Atletico Madrid?

Arsenal go into the second leg with the tie level at 1-1, a 3-0 win over Fulham behind them, and key players back in the squad. Ødegaard and Havertz are available again, Bukayo Saka is in strong form after a 9.3-rated display, and Arsenal have won all 8 Champions League home matches this season.

Is Julian Alvarez fit to play against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final?

The reporting is mixed. Diego Simeone spoke about Julián Alvarez as a major factor for Atletico Madrid and other previews say he should start, but Sports Mole listed him as doubtful. What is clear from the first leg is that Alvarez remains central to Atletico's threat after scoring their equaliser from the penalty spot.

How important is Bukayo Saka to Arsenal against Atletico Madrid?

Saka looks central to Arsenal's attacking plan. Arteta said Arsenal need players in top condition at this stage and that Saka will give them that. He also comes into the match off a 9.3-rated performance against Fulham, which supports the sense that he is arriving in strong form.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →