JAKARTA – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that captain Martin Odegaard and striker Kai Havertz are ready to play against Atletico Madrid in the crucial second leg of the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, early morning WIB.
Key midfielder Odegaard played for 57 minutes in the first leg of the game which ended in a 1-1 draw last week in Madrid, while Havertz did not play due to an injury in Arsenal’s victory over Newcastle in the English League on April 25, 2026.
“Yes (Odegaard and Havertz) are ready, they are in the squad, both of them. This is good because we need options. We need the ability to play different games, from the beginning or afterwards. It’s really good news to have them both back,” Arteta said in a press conference before the match on Monday, May 4, 2026, local time.
Odegaard had an injury-plagued season, appearing just 22 times in the Premier League, while Havertz was out for four months with a knee injury and has suffered muscle problems since then.
Arsenal are also without star winger Bukayo Saka, who missed the first leg at the Metropolitano, but returned to play in the 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday, May 2, 2026 – scoring and assisting in just 45 minutes on the pitch.
“That’s good, that’s what we need when we get to this stage of the competition. The players are not only available, but also in top condition to perform and make a difference,” Arteta said when asked about Saka’s performance.
Arsenal are looking to advance to their second Champions League final, after losing the 2006 final to Barcelona. At Atletico Madrid, they are aiming for a fourth final appearance in the European tournament or the first since 2016.
When the two teams met at the Emirates in the league phase in October 2025, Arsenal won 4-0. However, the first leg last week showed that the strength between the two teams had changed drastically.
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