Arsenal Relish Champions League And Premier League Run-ins, Odegaard Says

Arsenal approach the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Metropolitano with confidence, while also leading the Premier League title race. Martin Odegaard believes the squad enjoy competing on both fronts, as Mikel Arteta’s team chase a first league crown since 2003-04 and a first European Cup success in the club’s history.

Opta’s supercomputer currently gives Arsenal a 71.4% chance of lifting the Premier League trophy, underlining how strong their domestic position is after a 1-0 win over Newcastle United. Arsenal also hold a 36% probability of winning the Champions League, with only Bayern Munich rated slightly higher at 37% before the semi-finals begin.

The tie with Atletico Madrid will be just the fourth European meeting between the clubs,

and the second time they face each other this Champions League season. Arsenal won 4-0 in the league phase last October, a result which still represents Atletico’s joint-heaviest defeat in the competition, with the Spanish side having lost by four goals on five separate occasions.

Arsenal travel to Spain on Wednesday for the first leg, having returned to the top of the Premier League table by beating Newcastle United. The second leg is scheduled for 5 May at the Emirates Stadium, which could be decisive for both clubs’ ambitions of reaching the final and ending long waits for European glory.

Madrid bound. pic.twitter.com/de2OqpI8Kh Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 28, 2026

Arteta’s side are unbeaten in 12 European Cup or Champions League matches, with 10 wins and two draws during that stretch. One more game without defeat would equal the club’s longest streak in the competition, a 13-match run between March 2005 and April 2006, when Arsenal progressed to the final against Barcelona.

Across this season’s knockout stages, Arsenal’s four matches have produced only five goals in total. Arsenal have scored four times and conceded once, giving an average of 1.25 goals per game. Those low-scoring encounters highlight a more controlled approach in Europe, which could be important against Atletico’s usually compact defensive structure.

Both Arsenal and Atletico share an unwanted European record. They are the two clubs with the highest number of European Cup or Champions League matches played without lifting the trophy. Arsenal have appeared in 223 games in the competition, while Atletico have featured 190 times, leaving both sides still searching for a first title.

The calendar remains intense for Arsenal around this semi-final. After facing Atletico in Madrid, Arsenal resume Premier League duties on Saturday with a home match against Fulham. That is followed by the return leg against Atletico on 5 May, plus further league fixtures against West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace during a demanding run-in.

Arsenal remaining key fixtures	Competition
Atletico Madrid (away), first leg	Champions League semi-final
Fulham (home)	Premier League
Atletico Madrid (home), second leg	Champions League semi-final
West Ham, Burnley, Crystal Palace	Premier League

Odegaard stresses that the players welcome this schedule and the pressure that comes with it. "How can you not enjoy it? Odegaard asked. We are playing in the toughest and most competitive league in the world, and we are at the top fighting for the title. We are in the semi-final of the Champions League.For me, it is hard to understand how you can not enjoy that. That is what we have been dreaming about all our lives, since I was a kid. These are the moments I have been dreaming about. For me, it is easy, as I said before, this is the best part of the season.The energy in the group is amazing, and we are ready for it. "

Team news before kick-off confirms that Eberechi Eze, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber are all available for selection. However, Kai Havertz will not take part in the match. Those decisions could shape Arteta’s tactical approach, especially in midfield and defence, where rotation has been important across league and European matches.

Odegaard also underlines the importance of learning from recent campaigns as Arsenal chase trophies on two fronts. "I mean, it is the best part of the season, so yeah, everyone is up for it and everyone is excited, Odegaard said. We know what we are playing for and tomorrow is a great opportunity for us to do something special. We know what is there, we just have to be ready for it and enjoy it, take all the lessons from the past and bring it into this end of the season. I am sure we are going to do that. We are looking forward to it. "

As Arsenal head into the first leg against Atletico Madrid, the club carry strong domestic momentum and an impressive unbeaten streak in Europe. With statistical models favouring a Premier League title and offering a realistic Champions League chance, the next few weeks will define how this campaign is remembered in north London.