Arsenal handed major Champions League boost after Atletico Madrid suffer double injury blow

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Atletico Madrid have suffered some rough moments in the build up to their Champions League clash with Arsenal including some major injury worries

Arsenal will be emboldened after their performance over Manchester City, despite the result, as they chase a Premier League and Champions League double. Standing in their way of their first European Cup victory is Atletico Madrid, who this past weekend were beaten in the Copa del Rey final by Real Sociedad on penalties.

In addition, Diego Simeone has seen both Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sorloth both suffer problems expected to sideline them for the next two games. Both, according to Marca, are targeting the Arsenal game to make their return, but there is mixed belief over how realistic this is.

Especially when it comes to Lookman, whose injury is considered more serious. The Nigerian international has seven Champions League goal contributions in 13 matches for both Atalanta and Atletico Madrid, the latter of whom he joined in the January transfer window.

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Sorloth, meanwhile, has shaken off his disappointing spell in England and remade himself in La Liga. Atleti are his third Spanish club since leaving Crystal Palace, and this season he has 17 goals in 48 matches, including one in the Camp Nou during the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

The mental blow of losing the cup final and the potential loss of these players will hand Arsenal plenty of encouragement. Especially after the performance at the Etihad Stadium, while many fans’ moods remain low, Declan Rice’s words post-match of, “It’s not over” caught by the television cameras will ring out around the squad.

The Champions League remains a great chance for massive silverware for this Arsenal side as we enter the final month-plus of the season. Having won eight from eight in the league phase, including a 4-0 win over Simeone’s side, it means they guaranteed the second leg of the semi-final will be played at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal travel to Madrid to play at the Wanda Metropolitano on April 29. The return leg in north London is due to take place the following week on May 5.