At a Glance:
- The Gunners’ 4-0 win over Atletico should give Arteta some useful tactical knowledge
- Atletico play at a slower pace, so Arsenal should play with more intensity
- Midfield balance is essential—Odegaard must play, too
Arsenal’s tactical setup has been rigid and lackadaisical at too many points this season, but the way that the team played in their 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the league phase of the Champions League earlier in the year was a real testament to how the team can look when everything is clicking.
While their upcoming match against Atletico in the semi-finals of the same competition might not be a high-scoring affair, there are a couple of ideas Mikel Arteta could implement that might aid his side significantly if they want to go all the way on Europe’s biggest stage.
The players that Arteta decides to go with ahead of kickoff could be crucial to the outcome of the game, as certain players look to be primed for a strong display if they are allowed to play a full 90 or at least a solid portion of the game.
READ MORE: Preview: Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal – Predictions, team news, confirmed line-ups
Confident carriers and runners will be essential to ensure victory for Arsenal
If there is a particular moment that illustrated what works best against a team like Atletico, it was the second goal in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over their Spanish opponents in October, when Myles Lewis-Skelly drove the ball downfield and laid it off to Gabriel Martinelli, who slotted home.
It is true that both Lewis-Skelly and Martinelli have not had the best of seasons overall, with the former potentially going out on loan next season and the latter struggling in terms of output, potentially meaning his time at the club is almost up.
Lewis-Skelly certainly has a case to start versus Atletico, with his urgency in possession and more forward-thinking attitude when compared to Zubimendi, a desirable trait when up against a more rigid European opponent.
Martinelli’s exploits in the Champions League—six goals and two assists in 11 games—mean that he has been essential to the Gunners in their 2025/26 European journey and surely warrant him starting on the left-hand side.
Both of these players greatly enjoy taking the ball to their feet and at least attempting to do something with it, regardless of whether it pays off, and Atletico’s slower midfield could suffer if Arsenal do go with a more aggressive and front-footed approach.
Runners are also needed, with the best example of an engine at Arsenal being Declan Rice—he ranks eighth for distance covered in the Premier League this season—and must also start in what is the Gunners’ most important game of the season so far.
Martin Odegaard is also an essential player in Atletico matchup
If Myles Lewis-Skelly is to start at the base of midfield with Declan Rice in front of him, then Odegaard should be the player to complete the midfield trio.
The Norway international offers a real sense of control when up against challenging opponents, and while he has struggled with both injuries and ball progression this season, his inclusion in the starting eleven should reap rewards.
