Mikel Arteta has delivered a major boost to Arsenal’s Champions League ambitions, confirming that both Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz are in contention to feature in Tuesday’s crucial semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium.
The tie remains finely balanced after a 1-1 draw in the first leg, a match defined by controversy surrounding penalties and VAR decisions. With the winner advancing to face either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in the final, every player fit to return carries significant weight. Arteta’s latest update on his two attacking stars therefore lands as timely and potentially game-changing news for the Gunners.
Ødegaard was absent from Arsenal’s comfortable 3-0 Premier League victory over Fulham on Saturday due to a knee injury, while Havertz has been sidelined since the 1-0 win against Newcastle last month with a muscular niggle. Their availability had been a major question mark heading into the most important week of the season. Yet when asked directly for an update ahead of the Atletico visit, Arteta struck an unmistakably positive note.
“I think so, the both of them [will be available],” the Arsenal manager told beIN Sports. “They are going to do everything, we are going to do everything to have them ready.”
The statement is more than cautious optimism — it signals a clear intent from the medical and coaching staff to push both players back into the squad in time for a night that could define Arsenal’s European campaign. Ødegaard, the club captain and creative heartbeat, brings vision, leadership and goal threat from midfield. Havertz, versatile and physically imposing, offers a different dimension in attack and has proven his big-game pedigree since arriving at the club. Their potential returns would not only strengthen Arsenal’s starting XI but also provide Arteta with the depth and tactical flexibility required to break down Diego Simeone’s notoriously resilient Atletico side.
Analytically, the timing could hardly be better. The first leg exposed how evenly matched the two teams are, with fine margins — particularly from the penalty spot — deciding the scoreline. Arsenal dominated possession and created chances at the Metropolitano, yet Atletico’s defensive organisation and counter-attacking threat kept the tie level. Reintroducing Ødegaard would restore the Gunners’ ability to control the tempo and unlock compact defences, while Havertz’s aerial presence and link-up play would give Arsenal a focal point to stretch Atletico’s back line.
Arteta has consistently emphasised squad cohesion and collective effort this season, yet he has never hidden how much he values the quality of his key individuals in decisive moments. By confirming both players are pushing to be ready, he has injected fresh belief into the dressing room and the Emirates faithful ahead of what promises to be an electric atmosphere on Tuesday night.
The road to the Champions League final is now clearer — and potentially more exciting — than it was 24 hours ago. Whether Ødegaard and Havertz start or come off the bench, their presence alone alters the dynamic. Arsenal are no longer simply hoping for a result; they are preparing with renewed attacking firepower and the tactical options that have carried them this far.
As the countdown to kick-off begins, one thing is certain: Mikel Arteta’s bombshell injury update has transformed the narrative. The stage is set at the Emirates. Now it is time for the players — and perhaps the two returning stars — to deliver.