Martin Ødegaard’s response to the question of whether he and his Arsenal teammates could find any pleasure in the pressure of their current trophy chase was almost indignant. "How could you not enjoy it?" he asked, before reminding everyone that they were competing in what is arguably the most demanding league in the world, fighting for the Premier League title, and now preparing for a Champions League semi‑final against Atlético Madrid.
"We’re in the semi‑final of the Champions League. For me it’s hard to understand how you could not relish that," he said. In recent weeks Arsenal have not exactly looked like a side having a good time. Their 1‑0 victory over Newcastle on Saturday was just the second win in seven matches across all competitions, and the pressure of a title race that has stretched over 22 years without a league crown has been palpable.
Yet both the captain and manager Mikel Arteta arrived in Madrid with a bullish attitude. Arteta, speaking at the pre‑match press conference, emphasized that the Gunners had earned their place on the European stage through "incredible work, passion and quality" over the past nine months. "This is the stage we want to be on," he said. "Now is the moment to make a statement, to show how good we are, how much we want it, and to make it happen.
The opportunity is in front of us and we have to attack it." Arsenal’s domestic campaign has been dominated by a nerve‑wracking battle with Manchester City, a rivalry that has added a layer of anxiety to an already intense season. The club is desperate to end a 22‑year wait for the league trophy, but there is an even more historic prize at stake in Europe. Reaching the semi‑final means Arsenal are just two games away from their second ever Champions League final – a competition they have never won – and they are doing it for the second consecutive year, something the club has never achieved before. Arteta was quick to point out that this achievement should not be taken for granted.
"A short time ago this club went seven years without any Champions League participation," he noted. "In such a short period, what we have achieved is remarkable, and we fully understand how difficult it is. It’s a massive privilege to be here again, two years in a row, in the semi‑finals, representing our club." He added, "We are going to grab this opportunity with both hands. You will see a team that wants to dominate, that wants to win, and that wants to start and decide the tie." The last two seasons have already given Arsenal some memorable moments in Europe – most notably the demolition of Real Madrid in the round of 16 last year – but both the manager and the players are eager to take the next step and reach the final.
There is an awareness that the road ahead will be anything but easy. Recent performances have shown the squad weighed down by expectations, and Ødegaard admitted that the psychological baggage of past disappointments still lingers. "That will always be there until we win it," he said. "We have to live with it, learn from all the experiences and lessons, and use them as part of our journey.
It’s the best part of the season – everyone is excited, everyone wants to do something special. We will take the lessons from the past and apply them now." Offensively, Arsenal have struggled in the second half of the campaign, netting only five goals in their last seven matches across all competitions. Nevertheless, they showed their firepower in the previous meeting with Atlético, thrashing them 4‑0 in the group stage in October.
Arteta insists that the same intent will be brought to the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday. Defensively, the Gunners have relied heavily on a solid back line in the knockout rounds, conceding just one goal in four games against Bayer Leverkusen and Sporting CP. However, Arteta dismissed any suggestion that they would adopt a defensive‑first approach against Atlético. "It will be a tough match against a team and a manager with a lot of experience in this competition.
They have every right to be here because of what they’ve done. It’s remarkable. We know the difficulty, but we have shown in Europe, wherever we play, what we are capable of. We have to play with confidence, desire and the will to win." Ødegaard also spoke about the need to ignore the external noise that has accompanied Arsenal’s recent dip in form.
He acknowledged that some fans might prefer to stay away from their phones, but in today’s society that is nearly impossible. "It’s about being mentally strong and focusing on the right things, living day by day and game by game. It doesn’t matter what people say – we can’t control that. We can work every single day as hard as we can and just keep doing that," he said.
"It’s massive for all of us. We’re in a great position to make history and that’s what we want to do. I’ve been at this club for a while and have seen the progression.
It’s been amazing to be part of that. We want to take that last step and do something really big, and that’s what we’re working towards every single day." Even the looming weather warnings did not dampen Arsenal’s confidence. Arteta noted, "We adapt to any context. In the last nine months we have played in countless different scenarios, against various opponents.
We will adapt to the conditions tomorrow in the best possible way, stay true to ourselves and aim to win." For his part, Ødegaard expressed a desire to make up for the time lost due to injury, which has been the most severe of his Arsenal career. "It’s been frustrating to be away from the pitch," he admitted. "I love playing football and want to be involved in every game. I’ve tried to make the most of my recovery, stay fit and return in the best condition possible.
Being injured is the hardest thing for a player – you can’t affect the game, you can’t be on the field. It’s tough, but it’s part of a footballer’s life. You have to see the positive side, become even hungrier to get back on the pitch and enjoy it even more." With the semi‑final looming, Arsenal’s resolve appears stronger than ever.
The blend of youthful optimism, seasoned experience, and a clear belief that they belong on the biggest stage could be the catalyst needed to turn ambition into a historic triumph.