Crucial Statistics as Arsenal Gear Up to Face Atletico for a Spot in the UCL Final

This matchup marks just the fourth encounter between the two teams, with the Gunners having already secured a decisive 4-0 victory over Los Rojiblancos earlier this season, which was Atleti’s joint-worst defeat in the UCL to date.

Atletico yet to lose at home to English clubs

All four goals from that match came in a blistering 14-minute spell in the second half, and Arsenal will be eager to replicate that performance at the Metropolitano Stadium to set up an easy ride for the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.

They’ll be mindful, however, that the last North London team to visit this ground left with nothing but disappointment.

Tottenham Hotspur, among six English clubs that have challenged Atleti at either the Metropolitano or the Vicente Calderon, are yet to find a win.

Atletico have claimed victories against Spurs, Man United, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Leicester, with three wins and three draws.

Two clubs with the most UCL appearances without winning

Arsenal and Atletico share a unique connection in the competition, as they are the two teams with the most appearances in the European Cup/Champions League without ever lifting the trophy.

Arsenal’s tally stands at 223 matches, while Atletico follow with 190. Both clubs will be hoping that, should they reach the final, they’ll finally break their title duck against either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich.

This marks the 16th time English sides have faced Spanish opposition in a European Cup/Champions League semi-final, with nine out of the previous 15 English teams advancing to the final (60%), including four from the last five seasons.

In the four knockout matches that Mikel Arteta’s men have played in this season’s competition, only five goals have been scored, with Arsenal netting four of them.

Gunners on the brink of history

Arsenal will need to demonstrate their resilience against a determined Atletico side, who have netted 17 goals during their knockout matches but have also conceded 11.

Earlier this season, the Gunners managed to limit Atletico to an xG of just 0.32 and a single shot on target, marking both as the lowest for Atleti in their 25/26 UCL campaign, showcasing Arsenal’s ability to play a more tactical game when needed.

Should Arsenal remain unbeaten after Wednesday’s clash, they’ll match their longest undefeated stretch in the competition.

Currently, they boast an impressive run of 12 UCL matches without a loss; their record of 13 matches without defeat from March 2005 to April 2006 paved the way for their only Champions League final appearance against Barcelona in 2006.

Gyokeres needs to step up

North Londoners will be looking for Viktor Gyokeres to deliver, as the Swedish international found the back of the net for half of his four UCL goals during the November meeting against Atletico.

However, in the subsequent knockout games, Gyokeres has had only six attempts, all of which have failed to hit the target.

Bukayo Saka remains crucial for his squad, with Arsenal’s expected goals rising from 1.8 per game without him to 2.3 with him in the lineup, while their scoring rate improves from 1.5 to 2.6 goals per game.

Conversely, Atletico have made an average of 374 high-intensity pressures per game, ranking fifth among all teams in this year’s competition, with Arsenal following closely behind at 281.

Alvarez and Griezmann vital for Atleti

Their average of 7.1 defensive line-breaking passes per game is only surpassed by PSG’s 7.8, indicating their capability to adapt to a more nuanced, if less intense, style if necessary.

Julian Alvarez has already made history as he is the highest goal scorer for Atletico in a single UCL season with nine goals, while seasoned player Antoine Griezmann has contributed to 56 of Atleti’s 231 Champions League goals (24.2%).

His tally of 40 goals and 16 assists marks the highest contribution percentage of any player from a team with over 100 matches in the competition, marginally edging out Lionel Messi (24.1%).

However, both Griezmann and Alvarez may find themselves challenged in the upcoming clash.

In the 22 UCL matches that have seen David Raya, Gabriel, and William Saliba start together, Arsenal have achieved 13 clean sheets (59%) and conceded a mere 11 goals (0.5 per game).

Whether the outcome hinges on pure skill or unyielding determination, this match promises to be an enthralling spectacle.