Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid - Champions League LIVE: Premier League leaders go up against Diego Simeone's 'furious' side a day after Spaniards kick off over lack of hot water

Bukayo Saka just keeps producing on the biggest stage. He’s been directly involved in 17 goals in 19 Champions League games - 11 goals, six assists.

Since his debut in 2023, only Barcelona’s Raphinha has a better minutes-per-goal-involvement ratio among wingers. Arsenal’s very own Starboy loves a European night.

Arsenal rank first for expected goals against (0.85) in this season’s Champions League.

They’ve kept opponents under one xG in seven of their last ten games in Europe.

Athletic Club managed 0.35, Olympiakos just 0.5. The Gunners don’t just defend deep; they strangle chances before they start.

Former Arsenal winger Anders Limpar is backing his old side to sneak a narrow win tonight and he’s tipping fellow Swede Viktor Gyokeres to grab the goal.

According to Opta, Arsenal win 58 per cent of simulations for this one, with Atletico’s chance of victory just 19.3 per cent. A draw sits at 22.7 per cent. Numbers aren’t everything, but the data favours the Gunners.

No shortage of confidence on either side of the tunnel tonight. Arsenal arrive off the back of five straight wins in all competitions, conceding just once in that run.

They’ve handled everything thrown at them from Fulham in the league to Olympiakos in Europe and even Port Vale in the cup.

Atletico’s form isn’t bad either. They’ve thumped Real Madrid 5-2 and smashed five past Eintracht Frankfurt in Europe, showing they can score from anywhere. Draws with Inter and Celta Vigo slowed them a touch, but Diego Simeone’s men are clearly warming up nicely.

Two in-form sides, two fierce tacticians, and a Champions League stage built for something special.

Arsenal’s return to the Champions League has been seamless. Two wins from two this season, four goals scored, none conceded.

They’ve now won six straight against Spanish sides in the competition, the longest run in Champions League history. Not bad for a club once haunted by European heartbreak.

Only two previous meetings between these two, and both went Atletico’s way.

They dumped Arsenal out of the 2017-18 Europa League semi-finals, drawing 1-1 in north London before Diego Costa struck the winner in Madrid. Arsenal will want to put that particular ghost to bed tonight.

Diego Simeone, Atletico boss, pre-match presser:

Diego Simeone’s last trip to England didn’t exactly end quietly. The Atletico boss was sent off at Anfield last month after a heated exchange with Liverpool fans following Virgil van Dijk’s late winner in a 3-2 thriller.

Simeone had to be dragged away by stewards as he protested on the touchline, then continued his complaints down the tunnel. After the game, he admitted he ‘regretted’ his reaction, saying managers ‘do not have the right to react’, but claimed he had been ‘insulted for the whole game’.

‘It’s not easy to be in the position we are in and receive insults for 90 minutes,’ he said. ‘My reaction isn’t justifiable, but I hope Liverpool can improve that aspect.’

The Argentine insists he’s learned from the incident but this is Diego Simeone we’re talking about.

Passion comes with the package, and Arsenal’s crowd will know exactly who’s prowling that technical area tonight.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal boss, pre-match presser:

Plenty of respect now, but you can bet that goes out the window at kick-off.

It’s not just three points on the line tonight, it’s pride. Arsenal have played 213 Champions League matches without lifting the trophy, the most of any club. Atletico Madrid are third on that list with 178.

Both sides have come close, both have the scars to prove it.

Maybe, just maybe, this is the year one of them finally ends the wait.

Arsenal are yet to concede in this season’s Champions League, and it’s no fluke.

They’ve held opponents under one expected goal in seven of their last ten games in the competition. Myles Lewis-Skelly and Gabriel even top duel success stats across Europe.

Not bad for a so-called 'soft' team.

Rule number one before facing Atletico: do not wind up Diego Simeone.

The visitors were left fuming last night after their training session at the Emirates ended without any hot water in the away dressing room. Players had to head back to the hotel in dirty kit before showering, and Atletico even lodged a complaint to UEFA.

Arsenal have apologised, blaming a temporary fault, but the damage might already be done. Just what you want to give Simeone before kick-off, extra motivation.

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A big one under the lights in north London, where Arsenal look to keep their perfect Champions League record intact.

Top of the Premier League and full of confidence, Mikel Arteta’s side host Atletico Madrid, who are fourth in La Liga and still fuming from that defeat at Liverpool.

Two managers obsessed with structure and control, some fans online have already dubbed this a clash of the ‘Haramball’ masters. For anyone not terminally online, that basically means it could be gloriously ugly.

Team news, quotes and all the build-up to come before the 8pm kick-off.