While coach Diego Simeone is trying to put more pressure on Arsenal, Mikel Arteta is quietly repeating a familiar message in recent days. He reminds his players that they have a home match to win a ticket to the UEFA Champions League final. And their important match takes place in a familiar environment.
It's great to play this match at home. We understand the nature of the match and know we have a very big chance" - Viktor Gyokeres shared before the second leg.
However, their opponent is not simple at all. If the context seems favorable, then Simeone is trying to make it more complicated. According to Spanish media, Simeone wants to make Arsenal lose their composure, turning the match into a psychological battle. Therefore, the biggest challenge for Arteta and his students is to maintain composure.
It is no coincidence that Simeone emphasized "we see their fatigue" after the first leg, and also said that the pressure accumulated from the Premier League and Champions League race is weighing heavily on Arsenal.
Simeone is clearly trying to sow suspicion, and at the same time exploit any signs of fatigue to make the opponent lose direction. Although this is a familiar tactic of the Argentine strategist, the atmosphere has become more tense after Arsenal's 4-0 victory in October last year. Sideline conflicts, including Atletico players complaining about playing conditions, further increase the confrontation.
At the Metropolitano stadium, Atletico tried to create a maximum pressure atmosphere. Some Arsenal members even suggested that this psychological factor could affect the second leg. The Arsenal coaching staff also paid special attention to the pitch surface. They argued that the grass in Madrid was longer than standard, while the pitch conditions - including slipperiness and irrigation system - were uneven between the two halves of the pitch.
These seemingly trivial details contributed to increasing tension. One of the hot spots was Ben White stepping on the Atletico badge, leading to a fierce reaction. Assistant Gabriel Heinze even faced Simeone directly.
Initially, Arsenal seemed confused by this reaction, but later concluded that Atletico seemed to have been waiting for such a situation to stimulate the fighting spirit. This quickly worked when the Spanish team played more brightly in the second half.
Arsenal is now clearly aware of the risk of falling into a similar trap in the second leg. This sobriety is also reflected in the reaction to Eberechi Eze's controversial penalty situation. Arsenal believes that Simeone influenced the referee during the VAR consultation process, although Arteta's reaction partly stemmed from real emotions.
However, the London team also proactively controlled the story, in order to neutralize the pressure efforts from the opponent. Arsenal's spirit has improved significantly after the defeat to Manchester City. The victory over Newcastle and the convincing performance against Fulham also helped them regain confidence.
Controlling most of the first leg is also a spiritual support, although Atletico believes that they are the team that creates more clear opportunities. The Gunners' force has been significantly strengthened with the return of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Riccardo Calafiori, along with Martin Odegaard recovering from injury. This helps Arteta have more diverse attacking options.
However, Simeone - with his pragmatic style - is likely to wait for mistakes from his opponent when Arsenal is forced to push up the squad. This is a typical type of Champions League match, where the pressure is large enough to create drama, but not as breathtaking as the final.
Both teams have good physical preparation. Atletico has just kept a key player after the victory over Valencia, while Arsenal also maintains stable form. Tactical adjustments promise to play a decisive role. Simeone may continue to use a 5-defender formation, while Arteta has more options in midfield with Myles Lewis-Skelly.
I really crave that. Hopefully we can succeed" - Antoine Griezmann shared about his dream of winning the Champions League.
Arteta also expressed similar determination: "I clearly feel the energy in the team. They have been waiting for such a night for a long time. A miracle is entirely possible".
That waiting is the biggest motivation, but also the biggest challenge. Will which team show their bravery before the threshold of history?
