Europa League semi-finals: Atletico vs. Arsenal team news, TV details and odds

Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side travel to
Madrid aiming to secure a place in the Europa League final

Preview

The semi-final is tied at 1-1 after the first leg at the
Emirates Stadium last week and Wenger’s side have a huge task ahead
of them tonight at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium.

With a place in next year’s Champions League at stake for
the Europa League winners, Wenger knows he has a chance for a
glorious sign-off to his Arsenal career. The Frenchman
will leave the Gunners at the end of the season and although he
admitted he does not know what he will do next, he does want to bow
out of Arsenal on a high.

He told Arsenal.com: “I don’t know what I will do next
season. At the moment, I would like to finish my job well. I
believe a man has to give his best as long as he is somewhere, with
all his commitment and energy. 

“I would like one day to know I worked with all my energy
until the last day.”

In an interview with BT Sport, Wenger added: “I want to finish this
love story well. The next game is always the most important in life
and this one influences the future of my club. 

“The future of Arsenal is not exactly the same if we
qualify for the Champions League or not. That’s why it’s a very,
very big game for us.”

Under boss Diego Simeone Atletico Madrid have only
conceded three goals at home in 2018. But the Argentine says
Arsenal will be direct and singled out German playmaker Mesut Ozil
as the key threat.

Quoted by the Metro, Simeone said: “Our line is to think
about Arsenal. They are a very direct team. They have many players
between the lines, who float in a difficult place to score. They
have a lot of speed in the last third. 

“Ozil is the most dangerous player they have, because of
his creativity and vision of the game.”

In tonight’s other Europa League semi-final second-leg
clash French side Marseille take a 2-0 lead to Austria against RB
Salzburg.

Atletico Madrid vs. Arsenal (1-1 on
aggregate)

• When: tonight
• Kick-off: 8.05pm UK time 
• Where: Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain
• TV channel and live stream: BT Sport 2

Atletico Madrid team news

The BBC says that former Chelsea striker Diego Costa is
likely to start in attack alongside Antoine Griezmann. The Daily Telegraph reports that Sime Vrasljko
is suspended after being sent off in the first leg. Filipe Luis has
also been included in Atletico’s 18-man squad.

Arsenal team news

Despite being taken off with a knee injury on Sunday
against Manchester United, Henrikh Mkhitaryan has travelled with
the squad. David Ospina is likely to start in goal. Mohamed Elneny
(ankle) is out while Sead Kolasinac (groin) is a doubt. Striker
Pierre-Emerick-Aubameyang is cup tied after playing in the
competition for Borussia Dortmund. The Daily Star says that young defender
Konstantinos Mavropanos could play after impressing against United
at the weekend.

Atletico vs. Arsenal betting odds

Latest best prices according to Oddschecker:

• Atletico to win the match: 83/100 
• Atletico to qualify: 2/5 
• Draw: 11/4 
• Arsenal to win the match: 17/4 
• Arsenal to qualify: 13/5

First goalscorer

• Antoine Griezmann (Atletico): 7/2 
• Diego Costa (Atletico): 26/5 
• Kevin Gameiro (Atletico): 29/5 
• Fernando Torres (Atletico): 29/5 
• Angel Correa (Atletico): 15/2 
• Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal): 8/1   
• No Goalscorer: 9/1 
• Danny Welbeck (Arsenal): 21/2

2018 Uefa Europa League guide 

Europa League semi-final results and fixtures

Marseille take a 2-0 lead into their semi-final second leg
against RB Salzburg while the tie between Atletico and Arsenal is
evenly poised at 1-1.

First-leg results

• Marseille 2 RB Salzburg 0 
• Arsenal 1 Atletico Madrid 1

Second-leg fixtures: tonight (8.05pm UK time) 

• RB Salzburg vs. Marseille 
• Atletico Madrid vs. Arsenal

Europa League semi-finals: TV channel and live
stream 

BT Sport will show both of tonight’s semi-final
matches. Atletico Madrid vs. Arsenal is on BT Sport 2 and RB
Salzburg vs. Marseille is on BT Sport 3. BT Sport will also show a
live stream on its app and at BTSport.com. 

When and where is the 2018 Europa League final?

It’s at the Stade de Lyon in France on Wednesday 16 May (7.45pm
kick-off). The winners of the Europa League final will qualify for
next season’s Champions League.

2018 Europa League betting odds

Who will win the Europa League? Here are the latest best prices
according to Oddschecker, as of 3 May:

Europa League winner:

• Atletico Madrid: 10/11 fav 
• Marseille: 11/4 
• Arsenal: 5/1
• RB Salzburg: 20/1