Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tells his team they must perform with intensity as they host Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final second leg. The tie is balanced after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Madrid last week, leaving Arsenal needing results at Emirates Stadium to reach the final. Multiple reports say Arteta’s message to his players is to “go out there like beasts,” reflecting a call for aggressive, focused play.
Arsenal are entering the match with confidence based on their home Champions League record this season, having won five of six games at the Emirates while conceding only three goals, according to one report. They have also previously demonstrated their attacking threat in the competition, while remaining aware of Atletico’s strengths; Atletico reached the semi-finals by eliminating Barcelona in the quarter-finals. Arteta’s comments frame the match as an opportunity for Arsenal to return to the Champions League final for the first time since 2006. The second leg is set to take place on Tuesday night.
