Arsenal is on the cusp of a historic achievement, and they could claim it this Tuesday night when they welcome Spanish heavyweights Atlético Madrid to the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League league phase. Should manager Mikel Arteta outwit the notoriously stubborn Diego Simeone, the Gunners won't just secure three points, they'll be celebrating their 100th win in the Champions League proper, all while extending an already impressive club record streak.
Two games played, two wins, four goals scored, and zero conceded, it’s been a dream start for Arsenal in the 2025-26 Champions League. Their only minor complaint might be that they didn’t beat Athletic Bilbao and Olympiacos by larger margins.
Nevertheless, 2-0 victories against both the Spanish side and the Greek champions mean Arsenal is one of just six teams to boast a perfect six points. Even better, only Inter Milan matches their flawless defensive record of zero goals conceded. Currently fifth in the league phase table (trailing the likes of Inter, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich only on goal difference), the Gunners are well-positioned for a direct ticket to the last 16.
Their matchday one success over Athletic marked their sixth consecutive win over a Spanish club in Europe’s premier tournament—a feat no other team has ever achieved in the Champions League. With their form showing no signs of slowing, that six is heavily tipped to become seven on Tuesday.
Arteta’s side cemented their momentum with a fifth straight win across all competitions in Saturday’s tight 1-0 Premier League victory against Fulham. Remarkably, they have also won 11 consecutive Champions League home games without conceding a single goal, transforming the Emirates into a European fortress.
Atlético Madrid, famous for their dogged defending under Simeone, can’t match Arsenal's stellar defensive streak. However, their attacking unit is certainly potent: Los Rojiblancos scored more goals in just 82 minutes against Eintracht Frankfurt than Arsenal has managed in both their European contests combined this term.
After suffering a tough loss to Liverpool on Matchday 1, the Madrid giants bounced back spectacularly by crushing the Bundesliga side 5-1 on September 30. That result propelled them into the top 10 of the league phase standings.
The demolition of Frankfurt was part of a three-match winning run across all competitions for Simeone's side, though their momentum took a brief hit with a 1-1 La Liga draw against Celta Vigo before the international break. They returned to winning ways, however, with a 1-0 victory over Osasuna on Saturday, thanks to a goal from Thiago Almada.
Atlético’s goalscoring streak is undeniable, they have scored in all 11 of their competitive games this season, suggesting they will severely test Arsenal's defensive prowess. Yet, their major weakness has been on the road: they are yet to pick up a single win away from home this season, logging two losses and three draws in five attempts.
The last time Atlético visited the Emirates was in the 2017-18 Europa League semi-final, playing out a 1-1 draw before eventually edging out Arsène Wenger’s men in the return leg en route to lifting the trophy.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Arsenal emerged from their Premier League win against Fulham without any new fitness concerns, but they are still managing a hefty injury list.
Defender Piero Hincapié remains a slight doubt for Tuesday's match due to a persistent groin issue. While he returned to team training last week, Mikel Arteta may choose caution. The quartet of Noni Madueke, Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus all remain sidelined as they recover from various knee injuries.
Looking ahead, both Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice are one yellow card away from a suspension, which would see them miss the Matchday 4 fixture against Slavia Prague. However, Arteta is unlikely to let this risk dictate his starting lineup on Tuesday.
Thanks to the Gunners' impressive squad depth, Arteta is expected to make a couple of changes. This opens the door for rotation and gives a chance to players like Ben White, young midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly, and forward Gabriel Martinelli to push for a spot in the starting XI.
Atlético Madrid's victory over Osasuna came at a cost, as they sustained a fresh injury concern. Attacker Nico González was forced off just before halftime due to a head injury. Following concussion protocols, the Argentinian will definitely miss the trip to the Emirates.
Manager Diego Simeone brought on his son, Giuliano Simeone, to replace González over the weekend. However, the club has several alternative options for the left side, including match-winner Thiago Almada, Javi Galán, Matteo Ruggeri, and former Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.
Midfielder Johnny Cardoso (ankle) is the visitors' only other fitness absentee for Tuesday. On a positive note, experienced defender Clément Lenglet is available again after serving a suspension in La Liga, giving Simeone another strong option for the backline.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Ruggeri; Simeone, Barrios, Gallagher, Almada; Griezmann, Alvarez
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
Arsenal 2-1 Atletico Madrid
