Arsenal fans set off fireworks ahead of Champions League clash
Arsenal supporters launched fireworks outside Atletico Madrid’s hotel in Shoreditch, London, during the early hours of this morning, ahead of tonight’s Champions League semi-final second leg at the Emirates Stadium, reports BritPanorama.
The fireworks began at approximately 1:30am outside the Courthouse Hotel, with several rounds continuing throughout the night.
Reports in Spain indicate that Atletico have lodged a complaint with Uefa regarding the incident. Mikel Arteta’s side are favourites going into tonight’s match, having secured a 1-1 draw at the Metropolitano Stadium in last week’s first leg.
The winner tonight will face either PSG or Bayern Munich in the Champions League final at the end of the month. The Spanish club opted for different accommodation this time, having previously stayed elsewhere during their league phase visit to north London in October, when they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat. Spanish media suggested superstition played a role in the hotel switch following that comprehensive loss.
Atletico manager Diego Simeone dismissed such speculation with humour, saying: “We are doing better than in October and the hotel was cheaper. That’s why we changed.” The Argentine continued: “We are confident in terms of what we want with the game, but it is not just down to us. We are convinced about what we need to do.”
The Gunners come into the game having thumped Fulham over the weekend with a convincing 3-0 win. Three goals in the first half, with a brace from Viktor Gyokeres and a tidy finish from Bukayo Saka, were enough to see off the west Londoners in convincing fashion.
Victories against Athletic Bilbao and Valencia, sandwiched in with their home leg draw against Arsenal, give Simeone’s side a small layer of confidence as they travel to north London. Atletico have reached the Champions League final twice under Simeone, losing to local rivals Real Madrid on both occasions. They’ve had success against English sides in this stage of the competition in the past, beating Chelsea in 2014, with goals from Arda Turan, Adrian Lopez and an eventual Blue, Diego Costa. Simeone would love a repeat tonight, having enjoyed many famous nights in the Champions League with Atletico.
