Return of 'special' Bukayo Saka for Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid will 'lift’ players - Martin Odegaard

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The return of "special" Bukayo Saka will "lift the players around him" for Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League semi-final clash with Atletico Madrid, Martin Odegaard has told TNT Sports.

No Filter: Arsenal edge past Sporting to reach UCL semis

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Saka came off the bench in a 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday that sent Arsenal back to the top of the Premier League table, his first appearance for over a month after sustaining an Achilles injury.

The Gunners struggled in the absence of the England winger, winning just one of five games without him, but his return coincides with the most vital part of the season as they target a remarkable Premier League and Champions League double.

Mikel Arteta’s side travel to the Metropolitano in Madrid on Wednesday to face Atleti in the first leg of their semi-final clash, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, as they look to return to the final of Europe’s flagship competition for the first time in 20 years.

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Odegaard explained ahead of the game how much of a boost Saka’s return to fitness has given the team.

"For sure [it’s lifted the mood]. When you have players like Bukayo back, he brings something special," Odegaard told TNT Sports.

"Of course, he has quality and all that, but he also lifts the players around him, the people around him. It’s great to have him back. Everyone who is coming back from injury is always a boost. We have to use that as a big positive."

'Nobody owes us anything' - Simeone looks ahead to Atletico's UCL semi-final against Arsenal

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Arsenal’s form has wobbled lately, with the win over Newcastle proving timely after a run of one win, one draw and four defeats in their previous six games.

Victory ensured The Gunners returned to the top of the Premier League table, having played a game more than title rivals Manchester City, as they look to close out a memorable campaign.

"It’s good, amazing," Odegaard said. "Top of the Premier League, and in the semi-final of the Champions League, that is where you want to be.

"That’s what you dream of growing up when you want to be a footballer, you dream of nights like this and to fight for these titles. We are there and we need to enjoy and embrace that and be ready for it. I feel like we’re really ready for it."

Standing between Arsenal and a place in the Budapest final at the end of the month are Atletico Madrid.

The Spaniards are looking to reach the final for a third time under manager Diego Simeone, but for the first time in a decade, after stunning Barcelona in the last eight.

"It’s a big challenge. What they’ve done already this year in the Champions League, you can see their quality," said Odegaard, who spent six years on Real Madrid’s books at the start of his career.

"Really competitive team, competitive manager, he’s always there fighting for big things. Especially here at home, they’ve been really strong, and for sure it’s going to be a great atmosphere as well. It’s a big test, but we’re ready for it."

Highlights: Arsenal set Atleti semi-final date with tense Sporting draw

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Arteta: Simeone’s ‘fingerprints all over the team’

A big challenge awaits Arsenal boss Arteta in Madrid as he looks to outfox Atletico Madrid legend Simeone in the opposing dugout.

The Argentine has been in post for 15 years in the Spanish capital, leading the club to two La Liga titles, two Europa League crowns and twice finishing as Champions League runners-up, in 2013/14 and 2015/16.

"He has his fingerprints all over the team, and you can see that, and all over the players, the relationship he has with the players," Arteta told TNT Sports of his managerial counterpart.

"He has adapted and evolved, and it’s been an incredible journey what he has done with this football club, the way he transformed it, the consistent level he’s taken them to.

"It’s admirable. And tomorrow we’re facing that, we know that, but we have our resources as well."

Highlights: Atleti fight off Barca comeback to make semis

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Arteta heads to the Spanish capital with a bolstered armoury after Saka’s return and with defender Riccardo Calafiori back in training.

"That’s great," said Arteta. "We discussed that a lot, the players are making a huge effort.

"We have tried to give them almost nothing, to take nothing out of their physiques, to have freshness, mentally as well, to get to this stage with a real sense of yeah, it’s a reset, let’s play the final push in the right way. And the team feels like this."

How to watch Atletico Madrid v Arsenal

Atletico v Arsenal will be live on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max.

TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.

You can subscribe to TNT Sports through HBO Max, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

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